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Kaya Kaynak

Nicolas Pepe, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and seven loanees who could make Arsenal millions

There may be a few debates going on, but the January transfer window has been a broadly positive one for Arsenal. Of course missing out on top targets like Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk was frustrating, but with the signings of Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and Jorginho, Edu has left the Gunners squad in a better place at the end of January than where they began it.

One question mark against the Brazilian remains unanswered though. Historically, Arsenal have not been known for their ability to sell big. It's worth saying that deals for Joe Willock and Emi Martinez have come in his tenure, but generally, the Gunners haven't managed to extract high fees for unwanted players. The likes of Bernd Leno and Matteo Guendouzi who left the club over the summer, have gone on to do well for the club sides, leading to questions as to whether Arsenal might have made more.

That could be set to change this summer, though. Here football.london takes a look at the players out on loan who could be set to make the Gunners plenty of money when the transfer window reopens.

READ MORE: Jorginho sparks Arsenal division but Arteta has achieved non-negotiable January transfer mission

Nicolas Pepe

It's difficult to see how Nicolas Pepe has a future at Arsenal beyond next summer. Since his departure the Gunners have brought in Leandro Trossard and Fabio Vieira who can both play on the right wing, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have only gone on to get better. On top of that the Gunners were heavily linked with Raphinha and Mykhailo Mudryk as they look to move on from the Ivorian.

Pepe is currently on loan at Nice where he has a respectable tally of eight goals and one assist in 23 appearances this season. Come the summer he'll have just one year remaining on his Arsenal contract, and if he keeps up his form there will surely be some suitors for the unquestionably talented Ivorian.

Runar Alex Runarsson

With Matt Turner impressing and Aaron Ramsdale here for the long-run, Runar Alex Runarsson doesn't appear to have a future at Arsenal. The Iceland international has only kept three clean sheets in 19 appearances with Alanyaspor where he is currently on loan.

When that spell comes to an end he will have just 12 months left on his contract in north London. Runarsson will move on in the summer for good surely, but how much Arsenal can make on him will push Edu's negotiating skills to the limit.

Pablo Mari

With most of the deals on this list there's a question over how much Arsenal might earn, but with this one we know exactly. football.london understands that Arsenal are in line to receive £5.9million for Pablo Mari if Monza avoid Serie A relegation.

As things stand they are sitting in 11th place and 12 points clear of the drop zone, meaning it would take a pretty spectacular collapse for that not to happen. Arsenal have already brought in Jakub Kiwior as Mari's replacement, so they're prepared for his departure.

Nuno Tavares

With the way Kieran Tierney has found himself behind Takehiro Tomiyasu in the left-back spot at times this season, it's clear that Mikel Arteta has moved towards having an inverted left-back. Oleksandr Zinchenko is undoubtedly first choice in that position, and beyond him it's hard to see Nuno Tavares getting back in Arteta's plans any time soon.

Tavares has had an incredibly productive loan spell at Marseille this season, where he shown the promise that was always there during his raw spell with Arsenal by scoring five goals in 18 appearances from left wing-back. That makes him someone who could be hugely valuable come the summer, and with three years remaining on his deal, the Gunners will have plenty of bargaining power.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

There was a time where Arsenal could have got close to £20million for Ainsley Maitland-Niles after their FA Cup success in 2020. Now though it doesn't look as though they'll get anywhere near that.

Maitland-Niles has been doing OK during his loan spell at Southampton, but recently he has found himself on the bench. Arsenal took up their option to extend his contract by 12 months last summer, which means he'll have one year left come the end of the season. With this being their last chance to sell, it seems Maitland-Niles' Gunners career may finally be about to come to an end.

Flo Balogun

This one is certainly questionable. Flo Balogun is the top scorer in Ligue 1 right now above Kylian Mbappe and Neymar as his loan spell with Stade de Reims goes from strength to strength.

However, ahead of him in the pecking order back at Arsenal are Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah who have both been superb this season. It's hard to see either of them leaving this summer, so if offers come in, Edu may decide to strike while the iron is hot and allow Balogun to leave. That decision is far from made though, and it will be fascinating to see what the Gunners end up doing.

Cedric

Having found himself behind Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the pecking order at the Emirates and with talks of Ivan Fresneda potentially coming in, it's hard to see Cedric getting back in the first team right now. The 31-year-old is highly valued for his professionalism around the squad but Arsenal would surely be willing to let him go come the summer.

Cedric is currently on loan at Fulham and doing well under Marco Silva, who is a known admirer of him. With one year left on his contract at the end of the season, it seems likely that he will leave the Gunners for good at the end of this season.

Auston Trusty

Having come in from Colorado Rapids, Auston Trusty was immediately loaned back to the MLS before being sent out to Championship side Birmingham City this season. He has done well in the West Midlands this season, but with Jakub Kiwior and Gabriel ahead of him in the pecking order, it's hard to see him ever making it at Arsenal.

Following his good run in the Championship there could be some interest in the American defender. Arsenal may look to cash in on that come the summer.

Albert Sambi Lokonga

This is a hard to say with certainty, but right now it doesn't seem like Albert Sambi Lokonga has a long-term future with Arsenal. Mikel Arteta doesn't seem to trust the Belgian in big games, and with Arsenal interested in Declan Rice this summer, he may fall even further down the pecking order.

If he does well in his loan spell at Crystal Palace, it's possible that the Gunners may still want to keep him for when they need a bigger squad in the Champions League next season. However, there is also a possibility that a good half a season in the Premier League could raise Lokonga's value ahead of a potential summer sale.

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