Arsenal have spent heavily in the transfer market this summer but the Gunners could add to their coffers just before the deadline with a few sales potentially in the pipeline
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal's summer transfer business might not be totally over(Image: Getty Images)
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Arsenal are close to selling Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli in what would represent a record sale for the Premier League champions.
Martinelli, 25, has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia over recent days, with Al-Hilal chasing his services. Arsenal have held talks with their Middle Eastern counterparts over recent days, while the winger was left out of Mikel Arteta’s 18-man squad for their opening day victory against Coventry at the Emirates Stadium.
It now appears that a move is close with football.london claiming Arsenal and Al-Hilal are nearing an agreement for Martinelli’s services. He is expected to leave the club for a substantial fee in the region of £50million.
That would make the deal the most lucrative sale in Arsenal history - eclipsing the £35m they were previously paid by Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in 2017.
Martinelli would leave after a seven-year spell in North London, having joined the club from Brazilian side Ituano. Since then, he has made 278 appearances for the club and has scored 62 times, helping Arsenal win the Premier League last season.
The forward had entered the final 12 months of his Arsenal deal, albeit there was an option to extend that by a further campaign. Galatasaray had initially expressed an interest in him, albeit decided to end their pursuit, which opened the door to Al-Hilal.
Martinelli would become the latest high-profile player to leave the club this summer. Leandro Trossard joined Besiktas earlier this year, while Jakub Kiwior and Christian Norgaard have both been allowed to leave.
Arsenal in the meantime have added to their frontline, with the signing of Greek international Christos Tzolis, who has enjoyed a productive start to life with his new employers after a £34m move from Club Brugge.
Gabriel Martinelli
Gabriel Martinelli looks set for a move to Saudi Arabia(Image: Getty Images)
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On Tzolis, Arteta said after the win against Coventry: “I love that a player who has only been with us a few weeks gets this kind of energy whenever he’s on the ball, and I think he’s earned it. I think the way he has performed the last few games has been phenomenal; what he transmits as a player - so direct, constantly incisive and wants to make things happen.
“He has an incredible variety of actions in the last 30 metres to decide and make the right decisions - even when the spaces are really small. I’m really impressed with him.”
Asked if Arsenal are still keen to add to their frontline amid ongoing links with Atletico Madrid wantaway Julian Alvarez, he added: “I’m really happy with the squad that we have, and the main focus is to improve the players we already have, as we already have a lot of good things.”
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