Arsenal look set for yet another busy summer transfer window as the Gunners aim to build on their successful 2022/23 campaign. Mikel Arteta's side are challenging for their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years as they head into the final 10 games of the season eight points clear of reigning champions Manchester City.
The Gunners signed five new players last summer with Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira all playing key roles for Arteta this season. The additions of Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior in January have helped bolster the squad, but injuries to William Saliba, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Eddie Nketiah threaten to derail Arsenal's title challenge at the final stage of the season.
Further additions will be needed ahead of next season if the Gunners are to continue fighting at the top of the table for the years to come. Declan Rice is Arsenal's priority in the summer transfer window, football.london understands - but a number of outgoings could prove to be crucial in helping fund the north Londoners' transfer business as they look set to return to Champions League action next term.
READ MORE: Folarin Balogun summer sale can help Arsenal fund transfer for the ‘next Erling Haaland’
Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar has already admitted that he has started planning for the summer transfer window to give the Gunners an edge over their rivals when it comes to signing new players and moving on existing stars. "It’s already started because you know what’s happening in the market everybody is doing stuff," the Brazilian said of Arsenal's preparation for the summer.
"You have to plan with people as well just to be prepared so when you go again in the summer you are very prepared. We are very excited with where we are at the moment, but we have to understand there’s still a journey to go, still things to do.
"Of course we’re happy to be in the moment we are now, but we have to understand there’s still things to go to keep going."
Nine players are facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium this summer, including club record signing Nicolas Pepe and Hale End star Folarin Balogun.
The latter would see the Gunners achieve the biggest fee, with the club thought to have set a £35million asking price after an impressive loan spell in France for Stade de Reims. According to CIES Football Observatory, the following players could see Arsenal receive a combined figure of £105million to reinvest in Arteta's squad.
- Nicolas Pepe - £8.7million
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles - £2.6million
- Albert Sambi Lokonga - £13.2million
- Nuno Tavares - £22million
- Pablo Mari - £2.6million
- Cedric Soares - £2.6million
- Alex Runarsson - £1million
- Kieran Tierney - £17.5million
- Folarin Balogun - £35million
According to The Sun, Ligue 1 outfit Nice might be prepared to take Pepe off the Gunners' hands at the end of the season when his loan spell ends, while the player himself appears open to the idea. However, Arsenal could be forced to waive a fee for a player whose contract runs until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Albert Sambi Lokonga, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Cedric Soares - all of whom are on loan elsewhere in the Premier League - and a trio of players spending the season overseas could all be sold this summer. Nuno Tavares completed a temporary move to Marseille last summer, Alex Runarsson is at Alanyaspor and Pablo Mari is in Italy with Monza.
The possibility of securing over £100million in outgoing sales could see Arsenal reinvest that figure into a deal for Rice. It could also be spent on few different areas of the squad, with Balogun and Kieran Tierney facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium.
Rob Holding is yet another player that may be moved on to allow Arsenal to bring in a higher quality option at centre-back to challenge Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. There are plenty of decisions to be made this summer, but there is a huge opportunity available for Edu to secure a serious amount of revenue to reinvest in further signings by selling some fringe players.
READ NEXT:
Latest Arsenal injury news as four miss Leeds with Bukayo Saka concern and Eddie Nketiah update
Ben White injury fear sparks Arsenal backup plan discussion as William Saliba role confirmed
Leandro Trossard reveals why he was surprised after Arsenal transfer amid Mikel Arteta warning
Arsenal to make decision on Emile Smith Rowe future as Mikel Arteta faces £80m transfer dilemma
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
