(Credit: Imago)

James Murray

Mon 16 March 2026 18:00, UK

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Arsenal need to prioritise the sales of young stars to balance the books after their heavy spending at the Emirates Stadium. 

That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider the Gunners’ transfer plans will depend on how this season pans out.

The Telegraph reported on 5 March Arsenal will have to sell one first-team player in the summer transfer window following their spending this season. 

The newspaper revealed there have been discussions around who would be the most lucrative sale, with a potential deal for club captain Martin Odegaard expected to bring in a sizeable profit if he were to leave.

Arsenal spent more than £250million on strengthening their squad last summer after eight new additions arrived through the door at the Emirates. 

How Arsenal have landed £20m boost

Arsenal could win the quadruple following their impressive performances across all competitions this season. 

Mikel Arteta’s side sit nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, while they remain in the Champions League and FA Cup.

The Gunners are also set to take on Man City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday (22 March).

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson discussed the reports around Arsenal needing to sell a player this summer.

“I thought it was a very odd story,” said Borson.

“I mean, the reality is that they have already probably outperformed their forecast by maybe £20m on what they expected. 

“There’s no way that they would have expected to be in every competition and to have won every game in the first phase of the Champions League, so that’s probably all put them higher than their budget.” 

How Arsenal can ‘balance the books’ after spending spree

Borson insisted Arsenal are unlikely to have made any decisions around potential player sales.

“Do they need to sell?” said Borson.

“Well, I think it just depends how the season pans out. If they win the Champions League, I don’t think their first thought will be, ‘We’ve now got to sell a footballer’. 

“They are going to make a huge amount of money from winning the Champions League. It’s also going to set them up commercially, so I don’t think they’ve made any decisions. 

“I think it’s just a generic statement that clearly you can’t keep spending forever.

“At some point you need to balance the books, be that sales of young players for book profit or be that moving players on towards the end of their useful life at a profit if you can.”