Arsenal are preparing to offload several players after signing Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. They’ve spent £200 million on six signings and will spend £268m after Eze. Kai Havertz’s knee injury accelerated Eze’s deal. Talks are ongoing for Jakub Kiwior to Porto and Stuttgart, Fabio Vieira to Stuttgart, Reiss Nelson to Fulham, Oleksandr Zinchenko to Fenerbahce, and Albert Sambi Lokonga to PAOK. Goalkeeper Karl Hein is also set to leave, with Werder Bremen interested.
In a strategic move to balance their books and streamline their squad, Arsenal are reportedly preparing to offload several players following the high-profile signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. The Gunners have been one of the most active clubs in the transfer market this summer, already splashing out £200 million on six new additions. With the imminent arrival of Eze, a deal worth £268 million, the North London club is keen to recoup some of their investment and ensure a sustainable financial model.
Initially, Arsenal were hesitant to pursue Eze without first offloading existing players. However, a concerning knee injury sustained by key player Kai Havertz has forced the club's hand, prompting them to accelerate the Eze deal and address squad depth concerns. Eze is expected to feature for Crystal Palace in their Europa Conference League play-off match before officially joining the Gunners.
With Eze's arrival imminent, Arsenal's focus will shift towards facilitating departures before the transfer window slams shut. Several players have been linked with moves away from the Emirates Stadium, with negotiations already underway for some.
Jakub Kiwior, the Polish international defender, is reportedly attracting interest from Portuguese giants Porto, while Bundesliga side Stuttgart are also keen on securing his services. Kiwior's versatility and potential have made him a sought-after commodity, and Arsenal may be tempted to cash in on him if the right offer arrives.
Another player potentially heading for the exit door is Fabio Vieira. Despite showing glimpses of his talent, the Portuguese midfielder has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot under manager Mikel Arteta. Stuttgart are also said to be monitoring Fabio Vieira. Fulham have expressed an interest in Reiss Nelson.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, the Ukrainian international, is another player who could be on his way out of Arsenal. Turkish giants Fenerbahce are reportedly admirers of the versatile left-back, who has been a valuable squad member since arriving from Manchester City. However, with the emergence of other options in the left-back position, Zinchenko may seek pastures new to secure more regular playing time.
Albert Sambi Lokonga is also attracting interest, with Greek side PAOK reportedly making an approach for the young midfielder over the past 48 hours. Lokonga has found it difficult to break into the first team since joining Arsenal, and a move away could be beneficial for his development.
Aside from the aforementioned quintet, goalkeeper Karl Hein is also poised to move on. Werder Bremen are said to be considering a move for him.
Arsenal's summer transfer activity signals a clear intention to compete at the highest level, both domestically and in Europe. However, the club's hierarchy is also mindful of the need to maintain financial stability and avoid breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. As such, the expected departures will serve to balance the books and ensure that Arsenal can continue to invest in their squad in the future.
The coming days and weeks will be crucial as Arsenal look to finalize these outgoings and fine-tune their squad ahead of the new season. With Eze's arrival adding further quality to their attacking options, the Gunners will be hoping that their squad overhaul can translate into tangible success on the pitch.