Mikel Arteta speaks to his Arsenal players at Emirates Stadium.placeholder image
Mikel Arteta speaks to his Arsenal players at Emirates Stadium. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal’s transfer business has left room for high-profile exits this summer
Arsenal’s make-or-break transfer window began slowly, but has suddenly come to life as we enter the final four weeks before the Premier League season kicks off for 2025/26.
The Gunners received much criticism last campaign after their title challenge barely made it to the spring, champions Liverpool barely needing to break a sweat in the end while Arsenal only just scraped second place.
Attacking reinforcements were made a priority for Mikel Arteta this summer and he looks set to reluctantly oblige with the calibre of signings Gunners fans have been demanding. Viktor Gyokeres remains their priority striker target while links with Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo have gained traction.
Chelsea’s Noni Madueke looks set to become the first of the quartet to sign in a £52m deal though, prompting criticism from fans who feel their other forward targets should have been prioritised. With Madueke arriving and others expected to follow, one Arsenal forward may look to depart in search of a fresh start elsewhere.
Leandro Trossard may leave amidst Fenerbahce links
Belgian winger Leandro Trossard may become the casualty of Arsenal’s summer spending spree, as the 30-year-old looks set to fall down the pecking order and so is reportedly considering an exit, per a report by The Times.
Trossard is a reported target for Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce and may opt to make the move to Turkey, where he may get the chance to play European football while resolving a contract impasse at the Emirates.
The Times state in their report that Trossard earns around £90,000 a week at Arsenal but had been attempting to negotiate a new contract since last summer, resulting in an impasse which in hindsight may have reflected Trossard’s lessening role in Arteta’s long-term plan.
Trossard sale may be necessary to fund forward signings
Trossard has more than fulfilled his role since he joined two and a half years ago, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion initially as an impact option off the bench while Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus were still on top form.
Over time, Trossard’s reliability and knack of scoring important goals gave him an increasingly regular starting spot in Arteta’s side, while others such as Martinelli, Jesus and Kai Havertz struggled with injuries and saw their goalscoring numbers wane. Trossard has scored 28 goals and laid on 23 assists for Arsenal and has operated across the frontline and even in a deeper midfield role, in the absence of Martin Odegaard, during his Gunners career.
But if one of Eze or Rodrygo were to arrive in addition to Madueke and Gyokeres, sales must be made in order to balance the books. With several squad players already having been released at the expiry of their contracts, the Gunners are left with limited options for player sales as they attempt to fund marquee signings. Arsenal may have to contend with a reluctant but necessary parting of the ways with Trossard if their asking price is met.
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