Arsenal could show as many as 11 first-team stars the exit door this summer, with plans already in place for another overhaul under Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners have enjoyed a hugely impressive campaign this season and are involved in an intense race with Manchester City to win the Premier League title. They have stumbled in recent weeks but have still managed to seal their return to the Champions League.
Ahead of their first return to the competition, there are plans in place to revamp the squad with a number of first-team stars thought to be on the chopping block. Academy graduate Ainsley Maitland-Niles has already announced he will be leaving the club, whilst Reiss Nelson could also depart at the end of his contract amid links with AC Milan.
They could be followed by a number of established first-team stars. According to reports, the Gunners would be willing to listen to offers for the likes of Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka and Folarin Balogun.
Xhaka has been a mainstay for the Gunners this season but with plans in place to revamp the side’s midfield, the Swiss international could be sacrificed to raise funds. Tierney could also leave after falling behind summer signing Oleksandr Zinchenko in the pecking order. Newcastle have been credited with an interest in the former Celtic star.
There is also plenty of speculation regarding the future of loan star Folarin Balogun. The academy graduate has enjoyed a brilliant temporary stint in France with 18 Ligue 1 goals to his name.
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It is thought Balogun would be happy to move on should opportunities in north London not be forthcoming. A number of sides have been credited with an interest in the striker amid claims the Gunners have put a £26m asking price on his head.
The exits are not likely to end there with a whole host of other fringe men in the frame to be sold. Record signing Nicolas Pepe has spent the current campaign on loan with Nice after struggling to make a real impression at the Emirates.
He does not figure in Arteta's plans moving forward and could be sold, though Arsenal would likely want to recoup a significant portion of the £72m they paid to sign him from Lille back in 2019. Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Cedric Soares could all also be moved on, having all spent the current campaign out on loan with Crystal Palace, Marseille and Fulham respectively.
Pablo Mari and Runar Alex Runarsson are two others who do not appear to have futures in north London and would welcome opportunities elsewhere ahead of next season.
Arsenal director of football Edu has already revealed that plans for the summer window are under way. Speaking in March, he said: “It’s already started [preparation for the summer], you know what’s happening [in] the market. Everybody’s working, everybody’s doing stuff, you have to plan ahead of people to be prepared, and when it gets to the summer, we are well-prepared.”
