Head coach Mikel Arteta has been encouraged to sell Arsenal attacking duo Folarin Balogun and Nicolas Pepe before next season.
The Gunnershave moved quickly to acquire Arteta’s top targets this summer. They have already signed Kai Havertz from Chelsea, while West Ham’s Declan Rice and Ajax’s Jurrien Timber are close to completing their respective moves to the Emirates.
These three signings will cost around £200m so sales will likely be needed to balance the books.
Balogun is one player expected to move elsewhere this summer. He scored 21 league goals while on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims last term and he is unwilling to engage in contract talks with Arsenal.
They are ɾєρօɾτedly willing to sell him this summer for around £35mamid interest from AC Milan and RB Leipzig.
Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah would more than likely be ahead of Balogun in the pecking order at Arsenal if the latter decides to stay.
But former Gunners player Alan Smith reckons the sale of Balogun would “help them a fair bit” when it comes to Financial Fair Play regulations.
“It is hard because he’s [Balogun] a few notches down the pecking order now, especially with Havertz coming into the squad,” Smith told Gambling Zone.
“I think the management probably see Nketiah being further ahead of him at the moment, they are similar types of players, and the club must think that Nketiah is a little bit better than Balogun. From Balogun’s point of view, he will be thinking more about how much game time he’s going to get.”
He continued: “He’s a valuable player who can probably fetch £30million plus after the season he had in France. With financial fair play and all the rest of it, that that could help Arsenal a fair bit.”
Smith also thinks Arsenal would be wise to get rid of £72m flop Nicolas Pepe, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Rob Holding.
“Nicolas Pepe, I haven’t seen too much about him in the papers regarding a move,” Smith added.
“‘He was bought for far too much money, and it’d be great to recoup some of that because I don’t think Arteta is a massive fan. You can’t hang your hat on him.”
“Players like Tavares and Lokonga, promising youngsters, could move on. Arteta certainly does need to get two or three players off of the wage bill.
“Rob Holding has been linked with a move away. There’s not much potential for him to get into the team now.
“I think you’d be loathe to let him go because he just seems like such a good team player. Holding is great in the dressing room and he will always give it his all but he is probably a level below where you need to be for Arsenal – he may have to leave.”
