Arsenal eye £60m transfer windfall as Leno and Bellerin lead seven-man Emirates exodus

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According to football.london, Arsenal are planning their largest squad overhaul in decades with seven first-team stars put up for sale, including Hector Bellerin and Bernd Leno.

Mikel Arteta’s side are eager to utilise this summer as their chance to strengthen multiple positions, after owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment offered assurances that the Spaniard would be backed in the next transfer market.

The Gunners’ midfield is considered a high priority area to address with Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard set to return to Real Madrid, while three options have been put up for sale in Lucas Torreira, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Matteo Guendouzi.

All three are currently away from the Emirates Stadium on loan deals with Atletico Madrid, West Bromwich Albion and Hertha BSC respectively, while Torreira has interest from Sevilla (Libertad Digital) and Fiorentina (Mundo Deportivo), Maitland-Niles is a target of Everton and Manchester United (Daily Mail) and Marseille want Guendouzi (L’Equipe).

Arsenal have also placed Sead Kolasinac on their chopping block ahead of the left-back’s return from a half-season deal with FC Schalke 04, and hope that his sale – plus those of Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Leno and Bellerin – can raise in excess of £60million.

Bellerin is thought to be eying a move away from north London amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Inter Milan (Calciomercato.it), while Leno may look to follow the Spanish full-back in securing pastures new (football.london).

Dinos Mavropanos also faces an uncertain future at Arsenal with VfB Stuttgart keen to extend the centre-half’s loan spell with a deal that would include an option to buy, although the Gunners would prefer to agree a permanent sale this summer.

TBR’s view:

It is clear that Arsenal need a refresh after a torrid Premier League campaign that is unlikely to return any form of European football next season, while the sales of the seven transfer-listed stars will help raise the budget available for Arteta to build his vision for the future.

Their departures could also save Arteta £25.2million a season in wages, with Spotrac figures showing Bellerin as earning £110,000-per-week, Leno and Kolasinac £100k-p/w, Torreira £75k-p/w, Guendouzi £40k-p/w, Maitland-Niles £35k-p/w and Mavropanos £25k-p/w.

Having a war chest of over £60m and more than £25m available for wages should afford Arsenal the ability to acquire a handful of top talents to strengthen Arteta’s squad, but the volume of signings needed may require further sales or the introduction of youth prospects.