Five Arsenal players at risk of being flogged to fund Arteta’s transfer kitty including Lacazette and Guendouzi
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WITH another campaign out of the top echelon of European football seeming likely for Arsenal in 2020/21 this next transfer window will not be straight forward.
Mikel Arteta will want to firmly put his own stamp on his improving team but the board will undoubtedly expect much of the money required to be generated from player sales.
Yes, there will be a transfer budget, but it will be a Europa League-sized kitty and the Spaniard needs a squad to take the club back to the Champions League.
Consequently, there will have to be some difficult decisions made and some players with high market value, the fans may not wish to see leave, may have to be sold, as well as the ones most fan will not lament departing.
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In short, Arteta may have to sacrifice some high profile first-teamers to ensure he can bring in the quality of players he needs to play his style and to challenge next season.
There are numerous candidates from the current first-team squad but which of those will attract significant enough transfer fees (all quoted from transfermarkt.co.uk) to fund a rebuild.
Here are five players who could be sold for the greater good:
Matteo Guendouzi
Despite considerable early promise, undoubted energy and enthusiasm, the young Frenchman, has not truly progressed in his second season.
He lacks the discipline and positional sense to play deep and lacks the consistent passing accuracy or goal threat to be a first-choice partner to a true defensive-minded midfielder.
His estimated sell-on fee is £40 million which must be tempting and there would not be a shortage of clubs keen to polish a still rough diamond.
Rob Holding
Selling the fan favourite would not be popular but with Luiz, Saliba, Mari and others firmly ahead of the injury-prone central defender in the pecking order it seems a strong possibility.
Particularly with English players selling at a premium and with the alternative candidate for sale, Calum Chambers, still injured. Holding is valued at over £10m, but I suspect Arsenal could ask for more.
Alexandre Lacazette
If the club need to sell to buy then the French hitman is a prize asset, despite a poor campaign by his own standards.
He is younger than Aubameyang but less vital to this Arsenal team with Nketiah being selected ahead of him before the postponement. He still has many top years ahead of him, would not be short of suitors and is valued at £54m.
Sead Kolasinac
The popular Bosnian arrived on a free and subsequently has wages far higher than his talent or form can justify.
With the arrival of Kieran Tierney and the emergence of Bukayo Saka, a left-winger, but a capable cover left-back, Kolasinac's days in North London must be numbered.
At only 26 he might well move back to the Bundesliga for the £18m he is valued at.
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Sokratis
The Greek international was a popular figure in his first season and always first choice under Unai Emery.
However, the return to form of Mustafi has seen him less utilised in the Premier League under Arteta.
Both centre-backs are entering the last year of their current deals, so decisions need to be made on the pair.
I suspect both could be made available, but I would sooner cask in on Sokratis if the valuation of £16 million is attainable.
@goonerdave66
