Arsenal are reportedly in a race against time to complete a planned £100 million summer fire sale, with at least two big first-team names put up for sale.
Striker Folarin Balogun is the major name on the list of big names to depart, with Monaco keen on the USMNT international. The French Ligue 1 club are preparing an improved offer for Balogun, who Arsenal deem surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium.
Since returning from a loan spell at Reims last season, the 22-year-old has spent part of the summer away from first-team training. He has not been named in the match-day squad for either of Arsenal’s first two games of the season.
But despite wanting to sell him, the Gunners still value Balogun at £50 million, apparently pushing interested clubs away till now. Several clubs have registered an interest in his services this summer. Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham are among the teams to have enquired.
However, Arsenal will reportedly inflate Balogun’s asking price to sell to a direct Premier League rival.
Serie A giants AC Milan and Inter Milan have shown an interest, but Monaco is believed to be the most advanced in the race to land the USA international.
The French side saw a bid rejected by Arsenal earlier in the season, but talks are ongoing over an improved offer closer to the Gunners’ asking price. Arsenal expect an offer from Monaco by the end of the week.
Gabriel Magalhaes is another player who could leave the Emirates before next week’s transfer deadline. There is growing uncertainty over the defender’s future after he was left out of the starting XI for the season’s first two matches.
Clubs in Saudi Arabia have been keen on trying to lure the Brazil international. At the same time, Real Madrid have also weighed up a move as they look to replace long-term injury absentee Eder Militao. But the Gunners are not keen on selling him this summer.
Meanwhile, there are reports that as many as nine players are still likely to depart Arsenal this summer as the club attempts to recoup up to £100 million to offset their summer spending.
Crystal Palace have shown an interest in Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu this summer, but the Gunners don’t want to sell. The North London club believe that the Japan defender has an important role to play following the ACL injury suffered by Jurrien Timber.
Elsewhere, Albert Sambi Lokonga is wanted by Brighton, while Kieran Tierney is a target for Newcastle, Aston Villa and Real Sociedad. Offers could also arrive for Rob Holding, Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares and Nicolas Pepe.
Arsenal have already sold Granit Xhaka, Pablo Mari, Matt Turner and Auston Trusty, raising just over £40 million. But according to Sportsmail, they have hope that they can recoup at least £100 million more in sales before the window closes
