Mikel Arteta to sell ten Arsenal players to finance club-record spending spree
Mikel Arteta has been granted permission to invest over £200 million during the upcoming summer period with the intention of strengthening a squad that fell short in the pursuit of the Premier League championship.
Arsenal’s slim chances of surpassing Manchester City effectively evaporated on Sunday as the champions secured a convincing victory against Everton, while the Gunners suffered a crushing defeat at home to Brighton.
The optimistic outlook that accompanied Arsenal’s ascent to the top has now been replaced by the stark reality that Mikel Arteta’s young team still lacks the necessary qualities to outperform Pep Guardiola’s relentlessly successful squad over the course of a full 38-game season.
Considering this situation, Arsenal’s board, as reported by The Times, will support their manager in the summer transfer window. They have already given the green light for pursuing key targets such as Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
According to reports on Monday, Arsenal is reportedly getting ready to submit their initial offer for the West Ham captain. However, even if they pursue the English player, it will not deter Mikel Arteta from making a fresh attempt to secure the signing of Moises Caicedo from Brighton.
During the previous January transfer window, Arsenal made two club-record bids for the Ecuadorian international. However, the 22-year-old decided to extend his contract with Brighton after initially handing in a transfer request and even threatening to go on strike.
Arteta is also expected to focus on bolstering defensive options, both in terms of full-back and center-half positions. Additionally, he may target a winger to provide competition for Bukayo Saka, and there is a possibility of pursuing a striker who can serve as a target man.
In order to finance their ambitious recruitment plans, Arsenal is aiming to generate approximately £100 million through player sales. Certain popular figures within the team and among the fanbase are likely to depart.
Granit Xhaka, who has played a crucial role this season, is reportedly considering a move back to the Bundesliga. Furthermore, Arsenal is open to receiving offers for Emile Smith Rowe, who has fallen out of favor with Arteta following a season plagued by injuries.
Additionally, players such as Nicolas Pepe, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Folarin Balogun, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Cedric Soares, and Nuno Tavares, who have all been on loan this season, will also be made available for transfer.
Long-serving defender Rob Holding is also expected to have played his final match for the club, as Arsenal is likely to part ways with him. Additionally, Arsenal is reluctantly willing to let Kieran Tierney leave, as there is interest from Newcastle in acquiring his services.
Following the defeat against Brighton, Mikel Arteta suggested that significant changes were imminent due to Arsenal’s decline in performance during the latter part of the season. The team has only managed to win two of their last seven games, prompting Arteta to indicate the need for substantial adjustments.
He said: “If the team can show that face as well, there are things that have to be addressed. With the level required for the Premier League and Champions League, there’s a lot to think about.”
Mikel Arteta to sell ten Arsenal players to finance club-record spending spree