Arsenal ready to sell three first-XI stars in January – Insider
Arsenal are considering cashing in on three first-team stars in January in an attempt to raise funds to reinvest into Mikel Arteta’s squad.
This is according to former Man United and Tottenham scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney could all be let go.
Brown previously told Football Insider that the Gunners are set to entertain offers for Jesus in January amid growing interest in the 27-year-old.
Tierney, 27, and Zinchenko, also 27, are now said to have been added to the list of potential departures as they no longer have a place in the squad.
The former has failed to make a single appearance for Arsenal this season after spending the second half of last year on loan at Real Sociedad.
Meanwhile, Zinchenko has seen his importance to the squad fade since his arrival in 2022, and the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori is said to have been the nail in his coffin.
As a result, Arsenal are looking to drum up interest in the fringe players as they believe money from their sales could be used to strengthen the squad’s problem positions.
Arsenal plan to sell first-team stars ahead of January transfer window
Brown told Football Insider in October that the Gunners are looking to strengthen their depth in all positions, and now explained that exits may have to take place first.
Now, the former scout who spent over a decade at Man United during their most successful period and has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment, insisted that Arsenal are keen to raise money and cut their wage bill ahead of the transfer window.
“There are three players at the club they’d be looking to sell,” he told Football Insider.
“And that’s Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko, and Kieran Tierney. They’re not in the manager’s plans.
“When it comes to sales, you have to look at who your assets are.
“We know there’s been interest in Saliba, for example, but I think he’s one of the last players they’d ever consider selling for any sort of money.
“If they feel they need to raise money, they’ve got these players who they’re far more likely to turn to.
“That’ll take a big chunk off of the wage bill and help them to reinvest in strengthening their squad.
“Sometimes the way it works is you’ve got to let some fringe players leave, raise a bit of money from them, and then refresh the squad with new backup options.
“It seems counterproductive, but it helps to keep the squad fresh and provide new options.
“Especially if you don’t think they’re good enough to play a role any more, or if you’ve got better options in their positions.
“So first are foremost, these are the players I expect they’ll cash in on.“
In other news, Arsenal respond to Real Madrid interest in William Saliba.
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