Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is going to sell atleast 5 players as the current squad needs trimming before the start of new season.
The Gunners took 30-man squad away for pre-season tour of the United States. After returning, Arteta assessed each of his players before the start of 2023-24 season.
Arteta earlier claimed that the ideal size of the squad is much lower than what he currently has at Arsenal. He said :-
“Well, we have 30 players here which is unsustainable.
“Obviously, the market is still open and things can happen. We are prepared. I’m really happy with the squad we have at the moment. We have improvements to make in terms of what we want to do in games and we still have to do that. Overall really pleased with the team.”
With reinforcement brought this summer, Gunners needs to let go some of their players this summer.
As per Express Sports, here are the five players that could get axed before starting of the new season by manager Mikel Arteta :-
Due to injury concern, Balogun was not a regular during the pre-season tour. After excellent season with Reims on loan, the USMNT international wants to be a first choice striker. However, that not possible at Arsenal currently, as Gabriel Jesus is in their squad.
Inter Milan is one of the few clubs interested in him and has reportedly prepared a bid of £34m. But Arsenal values him around £50m at this moment.
Soares joined the club on loan from Southampton in January 2020, later that summer his move was made permanent. However, he has not been upto the mark in his short stint at the Emirates.
He was left out the 30 man squad for the pre-season tour, which clearly indicates that he is not in Arteta’s scheme of plans. Villarreal, FC Porto and Sporting CP are interested in him and the 31-year-old is likely to move this summer.
Pepe was Arsenal’s record signing before Declan Rice arrival this summer. He has fallen down the peking orders after the emergence of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
The Ivorian has been training on his own since returning from the Pre-season tour. As per Mirror’s reports, the club might terminate his contract if they cannot sell him this summer.
Last week, Pepe was on verge on joining a unnamed Saudi Arabian club, but didn’t materialise at the last moment.
Lokonga was also forced to spend pre-season at home due to an injury. He spent second-half of the last season at Crystal Palace and it still in suspense wheather they’ll want to bring him in for another season.
Tavares’ situation still remains unclear, as he has struggled to break into the team under Mikel Arteta. He was loan at Marseille last year and with likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Keiran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu in his squad, he will surely be sold this summer.
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