Gabriel Martinelli is getting closer to an exit from Arsenal as talks with Al Hilal are understood to be edging closer to an agreement
Gabriel Martinelli is closer to an exit from Arsenal amid talks with Al Hilal
Gabriel Martinelli is closer to an exit from Arsenal amid talks with Al Hilal(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
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Arsenal and Al Hilal are edging closer to an agreement for Gabriel Martinelli, football.london has been told. Internal talks have been ongoing between the clubs, but now there is optimism an agreement can be reached.
The figure looks to be in excess of £50million, and the Gunners would therefore be making a record-breaking amount of money for a player. The current record stands at £35million, from 2017 when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool.
Martinelli has just one year remaining on his current contract at the club, although there is an option to extend by a further year. The Brazilian has featured in pre-season for the Gunners, however was left out of the matchday squads for the FA Community Shield and the Premier League opener against Coventry City.
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football.london understands despite claims from Ian Wright that the player was ‘not being spoken to’, Mikel Arteta had conversed with the player over the decision not to include him in the team. After an initial enquiry from Galatasaray, Al Hilal’s interest has emerged with their prior interest in Pedro Neto dissuaded by Chelsea’s massive asking price.
Al Hilal paid West Ham United £55million plus £5million in add-ons for Dutch international Crysencio Summerville after the 24-year-old scored five goals and four assists in a season in which West Ham were relegated.
Alternatively, Martinelli, a year older, scored just one Premier League goal and got four assists as the Gunners won the title. He did, however, score six goals in the UEFA Champions League initial phase, and earned two assists.
He ended the season on 18 goal contributions. Only Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard managed to earn more combined goals and assists.
With the arrival of Christos Tzolis, despite Trossard’s exit, Martinelli was not expected to be heavily involved in the club’s plans for the season. They might yet sign another forward, aided by the money brought in for Martinelli, or instead use Eberechi Eze in a wider role this season, with Noni Madueke another alternative.