Mikel Arteta plans £100m Arsenal transfer boost as seven players face exit

27 June 2023 , 07:00

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Image: Getty Images)

Arsenal are poised to make a big splash in the transfer market this week by spending over £200m on Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice.

‌But how much money could be raised by sales at the Emirates? It looks like being a busy summer in north London with several fringe players leaving.

‌Arsenal could face losing Folarin Balogun if he is not assured of regular first-team football, with Leipzig and AC Milan both interested. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta wants to give Balogun a chance to shine in pre-season, and the club would demand at least £35m if he was to walk.

But Balogun, who starred on loan at Reims last season with 22 goals in 39 games, is just one of multiple names who could be on their way out. It’s in midfield where Arteta plans his biggest revamp, with Granit Xhaka expected to join Bayer Leverkusen for around £13m.

‌Arsenal will also listen to offers for Thomas Partey, who has attracted interest from Juventus. Partey was signed to much fanfare in a big £45m transfer from Atletico Madrid back in 2020 and still has two years left on his contract.

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‌But his patchy injury record and limited impact on the team since then have contributed to making him expendable. Arsenal will not get anywhere near £45m for Partey, who is expected to be sold for less than £20m and also has interest from Saudi Arabia.

‌Another player who could find himself on the move is Eddie Nketiah, who faces more competition in forward areas once Havertz arrives. Crystal Palace were on the verge of signing Nketiah until a purple patch earned him a new contract at Arsenal.

Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are among seven players who could be sold this summer to fund Arsenal's spending spree ((Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))

The Eagles remain interested in Nketiah, who sporting director Dougie Freedman still regards as the one that got away. But with four years left on his contract, Arsenal would want more than £20m for him, and it may be that the 24-year-old prefers to stick around and fight for his place now that Champions League football is back at the Emirates.

‌The signing of Timber also makes it more likely that Rob Holding is allowed to leave. Holding has seemed to set to leave Arsenal on several occasions before but may feel the writing is on the wall this time. He is unlikely to command a fee in excess of £10m.

‌Kieran Tierney’s future at the club has also been in doubt since Oleksandr Zinchenko snatched his starting spot at left back. But while Newcastle have shown interest, Tierney wants to stay and was recently included in an official photo op modelling Arsenal’s new kit.

Arsenal are also willing to sell £72m flop Nicolas Pepe but have found it hard to attract serious offers.‌ Pepe spent last season on loan with Nice and while Arsenal want him off the books, he may be content to run his contract down and leave on a free.

Paul Brown