Arsenal have been busy buying a lot this summer, signing five players so far pending over £100 million for a second straight season. The Gunners however have shifted their focus to selling now, before anticipating anymore incomings. The club has a lot of players surplus to their needs and who do not fit in manager Mikel Arteta’s plans.
While Alexandre Lacazette, Matteo Guendouzi and Nuno Tavares have already left, Arsenal are looking to facilitate the exits of more. As many as three more players could leave the club this week, with Arteta admitting that there could be more signings in this summer transfer window.
Leno, Torreira, Balogun next on Arsenal’s outgoing list
Arsenal have finally found a buyer for their wantaway goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The Gunners had been trying to sell the German shot-stopper since last summer, but their asking price of £10 million was deemed too high by potential suitors. However, newly promoted side Fulham have finally agreed to sign Leno on a cut price.
Arsenal are set to receive £8 million for the 30-year-old who will reportedly sign a three-year deal with the Cottagers. Leno has been moving down the pecking order at Arsenal since the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale and now Matt Turner. The ‘keeper was desperate for regular game tine in order to make the Germany roster for the World Cup this year.
Lucas Torreira is another Arsenal player who could make space. The midfielder’s transfer saga has been nothing short of a headache for the Gunners. Torreira was loaned to Italian side Fiorentina last summer, with a buy-option of £12.5 million. Fiorentina were highly expected to trigger the buy-option, only for their last-minute negotiations on the £12.5m price tag to collapse the deal.
The midfielder has been holding out on an exit over his strong desire to return to Italy only. However, a new proposal from Galatasaray could see Torreira move to Turkey. The Turkish side have even struck a £7.5m deal with the Gunners, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Both the sides are now waiting for Torreira and his agent to give a green light to this deal.
Elsewhere, academy striker Folarin Balogun is set for another loan venture for next season. The 21-year-old returned from a Middlesbrough this summer, and is now heading to French side Reims for a season long loan. Further reports claim that Arsenal will now find potential buyers for Pablo Mari, Hector Bellerin and Alex Runarsson.