7 players Arsenal will try to sell this summer
Manager Mikel Arteta has already made a significant impact on the club by removing the so-called ‘dead wood’ and building a talented, youthful squad that is on the verge of clinching the league title.
Nicolas Pepe, the 27-year-old Ivorian forward, tops the list of players likely to leave the club in the upcoming transfer window.
Having arrived in 2019 for a club-record fee of £72m, Pepe struggled to consistently perform at the expected level.
He has spent the season on loan with Nice in Ligue 1, where he managed eight goals and one assist in 25 appearances.
Pepe’s departure could result in Arsenal having to pay him off due to a lack of offers from other clubs and the size of his wages.
Other players who may be shown the door include Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares, and Alex Runarsson. These players are currently on loan or have limited roles in Arteta’s plans for the future, and their exits could generate funds for new arrivals.
Maitland-Niles, whose contract expires in 2024, is currently on loan with Southampton.
Lokonga, on the other hand, is spending his time at Crystal Palace. Persistent rumours suggest Arsenal’s interest in signing West Ham’s Declan Rice is genuine, further casting doubt on Lokonga’s future at the club.
As Arsenal prepare for a likely return to the UEFA Champions League next season, there is also speculation that Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, and Folarin Balogun could be used as bargaining chips to generate funds for new signings.
Tierney has been linked with Newcastle, while Balogun’s impressive performances at Reims in Ligue 1 have attracted interest from several clubs both domestically and internationally.
Arteta’s summer plans for Arsenal highlight his determination to strengthen the squad and maintain their newfound success.
By replacing departing players with fresh talent, Arsenal aims to solidify their position as one of Europe’s top clubs in the coming years.