Arsenal chief Edu eyeing six player sales to fund latest Mikel Arteta transfer
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will need to trim his squad before launching a bid for £40million-rated attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus.
The Gunners have spent more than £200m this summer to sign Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice. The latter player became the most expensive British footballer of all time when his £105m transfer from West Ham was finalised earlier this month.
Kudus, 22, is one of the most exciting young playmakers in Europe after three impressive seasons with Ajax. The Ghana international scored 18 goals and provided seven assists for the Dutch side last season and scored two goals at the World Cup in Qatar.
Arteta is keen to add Kudus to his squad but will need to say goodbye to some players first. It's claimed six stars - Kieran Tierney, Cedric Soares, Nicolas Pepe, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Rob Holding - could all leave the Emirates in the coming weeks.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Arsenal's sporting director Edu has advised Arteta he will need to trim his squad before launching a bid for Kudus. The Ajax star still has two years left on his contract and it's unlikely his current employers will sell him on the cheap.
Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
Arteta can balance the books by getting rid of the deadwood. Putting Tierney, 26, in that category is harsh because he's done well during his four years at the Emirates. Yet the Scotland international has fallen behind Oleksandr Zinchenko in the pecking order.
Mohammed Kudus impressed for Ghana at the World Cup in Qatar (AFP via Getty Images)Who do you think Arsenal should sell this summer? Let us know in the comments below!
Tierney still has three years left on his contract, allowing Arsenal to demand £35m for his services. Newcastle are the favourites to sign the former Celtic left-back, although he's been linked with the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid in the past.
Soares, 31, spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham and has just a year remaining on his deal. Like Soares, Pepe is also out of contract in June 2024 and completed a loan spell at Nice last term. Arsenal are unlikely to recuperate much of the £72m they paid for the 28-year-old four years ago, but it's hoped a sale can be made.
Soares and Pepe have both been left out of Arsenal's squad for the pre-season tour of the United States, and so has Lokonga. The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace and it's believed Burnley are interested in signing him.
Tavares, 23, is another player missing the tour of the United States. He has two years left on his contract and is expected to complete a permanent transfer over the next few weeks. It's thought West Ham and Galatasaray are interested in signing him.
The final player who is likely to leave the Emirates this summer is Holding. Arsenal have already rejected a £2.5m bid from Besiktas for the 27-year-old, who has fallen behind Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior in the pecking order. The arrival of Timber will only further limit Holding's opportunities at Arsenal.
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