Arsenal's summer 2021 transfer window was undoubtedly a successful one. The club splashed in excess of £140million on six players - all of whom were 23-years-old or under at the time of signing.
The Gunners have since gone on an impressive run that sees them currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, three points above fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have played a game more than their local rivals. Despite the productivity in terms of incoming, it was another window where the club struggled to fetch considerable fees for outgoing players, with the £25million received for Joe Willock the only significant departure fee.
It has become a recurring theme during technical director Edu's tenure with the club to cancel the contracts of fringe players instead of selling them, a costly theme at that. The Brazilian is also guilty for allowing squad players to leave on loan, inserting a low buy option clause that undervalues the club's asset.
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One Arsenal fan on Twitter was quick to point this out during the ongoing international break after Marseille loanee Matteo Guendouzi netted for France during their 5-0 victory against South Africa. Guendouzi will be joining the Ligue 1 outfit on a permanent deal this summer for around £9million after enjoying an impressive campaign under Jorge Sampaoili's stewardship.
Speaking to RMC Sport earlier this month, the 22-year-old said: “It’s a well-considered choice (to join permanently). There were very good discussions with the President, the coach, people in my family.
"It’s the best choice I’ve made for many years. It started a little before the transfer window. I am very happy and fulfilled here”.
Considering, the talented midfielder has now notched four goals and 13 assists this season, is a full international for a strong Les Blues side and is still in his early 20s, £9million seems a long way from his actual value - which CIES Football Observatory estimate is currently €30-40million (£25-£34million).
Similarly, the departure of Greek defender Dinos Mavropanos looks worse and worse every day for Arsenal. The commanding centre-back is currently plying his trade on loan with Bundesliga side Stuttgart, who paid a €500,000 (£415,000) loan fee and they have an obligation to buy him for just €3million (£2.5million) this summer.
football.london revealed back in December of last year that the likes of Borussia Dortmund and West Ham are both monitoring the player's progress in Germany and whilst football.london understands the Gunners do have a sell-on clause in the deal which is likely to be in the region of 10 per cent, £2.5million is more than six times less than his current value of £15.3million, as per Transfermarkt. It seems very possible that Stuttgart could sell the 24-year-old this summer for a huge profit in the very same window that they will be buying him from for a similar fee that Arsenal paid for him back in 2018 when he was an inexperienced youngster playing in the Greek top-flight.
Another player that the north Londoners will allow to leave this summer is Uruguayan international Lucas Torreira. The diminutive midfielder quickly established himself as a fan favourite after joining from Sampdoria back in the summer of 2018.
However, Torreira found himself low down the pecking order following Mikel Arteta's arrival in the managerial hot seat 18 months later. football.london understands that the 26-year-old is expected to complete a permanent move to Serie A outfit Fiorentina this summer, where he has spent this season on loan.
A buy option for around £13million is included in the deal, £5million less than his current Transfermarkt valuation and almost half what Arsenal paid to bring him to the Emirates Stadium four years ago. Edu needs to start maximising the club's assets, selling them for a price closer to their true valuation, something that London rivals Chelsea have perfected in recent years.
For example, the Blues were able to garner a combined £81million for Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi last summer despite the latter two playing a combined 29 matches for the first team. If the Gunners chief is unable to start fetching similar fees in the upcoming transfer window, serious questions will need to be asked about his long-term future in north London.
