Arsenal have been approached over a potential deal for Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal have been approached over a potential deal for Gabriel Martinelli(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Galatasaray have approached Arsenal over a potential deal to sign Gabriel Martinelli, football.london understands.
The Brazilian winger remains a part of Mikel Arteta’s plans for now, although the club’s desire to strengthen the left wing, following their unsuccessful attempts to lure Vinicius Junior to the club, has alerted other sides to the potential availability of the 25-year-old.
Arsenal have already signed Christos Tzolis who has been the main starter on the left during pre-season. The Greek scored against Girona on his debut and then assisted from a corner against Real Betis.
Martinelli scored just one Premier League goal in 30 appearances last season, although he enjoyed a strong Champions League run during the league phase, but failed to score in any of the knockout games on the way to the final.
football.london understands Arsenal are unlikely to entertain the interest from the Turkish side in the short term as they look for potential alternatives for Vinicius Junior.
However, should they find an appropriate candidate, it is likely to see a shift in stance on Martinelli’s future. The player is believed to be happy in North London and has a desire still to play at the elite level, but the promise of regular minutes and the threat of being ousted by a second new arrival could change that.
Arteta spoke to the media after the clash in Girona and suggested that there could be some moves in the coming weeks. Bruno Guimaraes was confirmed as a new Arsenal player, however, more deals are still expected.
"We expect to have movements in the next few weeks, obviously," the Spaniard added, speaking after a 4-1 pre-season win over Girona.
"We want to get better like anybody else, and you just can see the transfer market and our opponents, what we are doing. We won't sit still, and we are very ambitious with what we are doing.
"The margins are very small. Because we want to get better, and the level is going to increase. We need to increase the competition internally. We need to make sure we identify the things that we don't have in the team."