Arsenal: Krystian Bielik deal that of a modern club

Krystian Bielik is on the verge of a £10 million move to Derby County. Such a sale is the type of deal a modern football club makes. This is real progress for Arsenal.

For many years, Arsenal have not been managed like a modern football club. While others in the sport have progressed their thinking inexorably in recent times, most notably Spurs and Liverpool, who are managed superbly at almost every level, the Gunners have lagged behind.

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From the tactics on the pitch to their work in the transfer market, they have been operating as if football is still in 2005. But football has moved on, dramatically, and the north London outfit are yet to move with it. But this summer, there are some signs that the club is finally getting with the times.

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The latest of these signals is the impending sale of Krystian Bielik. The Polish international shone for Charlton in League One last season and has attracted wide-ranging interest throughout the Championship, with Charlton even wanting him back on loan again. At 21, however, Unai Emery has told Bielik that he will not be a part of his plans at the Emirates and that he can leave the club.

Intsead of just sending Bielik out on another loan, however, with his contract eventually winding down to the point that he walks out the door for nothing, Arsenal have agreed to a £10 million deal with Derby for the towering midfielder-turned-defender. It may be sad to see a talented young player leave the club, but that is an excellent price that can now be reinvested into the first team this summer.

Realistically, Bielik is not good enough to make an impression in north London. He would not play many minutes next season and will do well to develop into even a decent Premier League player. If he was to be that successful in his career, he would have played at a higher level than League One last year.

As such, trying to get the most you can for a player who you have made a swift judgement on is sensible business. This is exactly the type of deal that Liverpool have done with Dominic Solanke, Jordan Ibe and Danny Ward. These three players combined for £46 million. That is the equivalent to a Mohamed Salah and an Andy Robertson.

Similarly, should Arsenal sell Bielik for £10 million and combine that with similar sales for unwanted players like Laurent Koscielny, Mohamed Elneny, Carl Jenkinson and even Calum Chambers, that could fund a significant move for a new centre-half.

Using the transfer market in this smart manner, to buy talent, sell it on for profit, and the re-invest it in new players, is what clever, modern clubs do. It is something that Arsenal have not done throughout their history. Perhaps, then, they are finally beginning to catch up.