Gabriel Martinelli's move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal is edging closer with Arsenal expected to finally smash their record transfer sale
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta looks to have sanctioned the record sale of Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta looks to have sanctioned the record sale of Gabriel Martinelli (Image: (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP via Getty Images))
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Arsenal have reached an agreement with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal for the transfer of Gabriel Martinelli, according to Foot Mercato. The deal is not yet complete, however, with their report adding that negotiations over personal terms are still ongoing though Arsenal are pushing to convince him to join.
The Brazil international has been linked with an exit over the last few weeks and after rejecting a switch to Galatasaray, looks set to make the move to the Middle East.
The Gunners have notoriously struggled to sell players for significant fees but that finally looks set to change here with Martinelli expected to depart for a fee in excess of £50million, which trumps the previous record sale of £35m for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's move to Liverpool nearly 10 years ago.
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Martinelli has been excluded from Arsenal's two matchday squads of the season so far. Despite claims from Ian Wright that he was left in the dark over his future, football.london understands that Arteta did speak with Martinelli as to his absence from the matchday squad before the Coventry game.
Links to Vinicius Junior even after the arrival of Christos Tzolis put Martinelli in an awkward position as he was facing the possibility of being third-choice even after Leandro Trossard's move to Besiktas.
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Their Turkish rivals Galatasaray lodged an offer for Martinelli that Arsenal were willing to accept but the player was not interested in that specific move.
He is, however, open to linking up with the likes of Ruben Neves and Crysensio Summerville at Al Hilal. They have also been eyeing a move for Pedro Neto but Martinelli is their top target.
Gabriel Martinelli and Pedro Neto compete for the ball
Gabriel Martinelli is ahead of Pedro Neto on Al Hilal's transfer shortlist
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Even if the Gunners are able to take in roughly £50million from selling him, there is no guarantee a replacement is signed in this window, particularly with his boyhood club Ituano set to claim a portion of the final fee on profit.
Eberechi Eze could therefore find himself playing more frequently on the left with Bruno Guimaraes' arrival and Myles Lewis-Skelly move into midfield increasing the competition for places in central areas.
The latter has been linked with somewhat of a shock exit but looks set to stay in north London. Departures are seemingly the priority for the remainder of the window, though, with all of Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira and Ethan Nwaneri.
A loan move is the preferred outcome for the latter with a number of Premier League sides interested in addition to AC Milan and RB Leipzig.