Arsenal Learn Problematic Dominik Szoboszlai Release Clause Details

Arsenal remain in the pursuit of Dominik Szoboszlai.

Now, more than ever, are the issues facing Arsenal pointing more furiously towards the January transfer window. However, if any hope is harboured that this window will solve all of the club’s issues, or indeed any of them, then a reality check is in order.

The issues run much deeper. Yet if Arsenal are to make any inroads towards being the side the supporters yearn for, then players of Dominik Szoboszlai‘s ilk are high on the list of priorities.

His signature is available in January, one that is courting interest in half of Europe, with this enticingly low €25m release clause whetting collective appetites. It’s been rumoured that it is payable in instalments, but David Ornstein of The Athletic has revealed otherwise, perhaps detrimentally to Arsenal’s hopes of landing the Hungarian.

https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1335855796303896577

Payment of the sum must be done in one go and within two weeks of the clause being triggered. Szoboszlai has until December 15th to announce his decision to leave, which then prompts interested clubs to submit their bids to Red Bull Salzburg by December 31st.

Time is of the essence, but most worryingly, money talks.

Working on the basis that Arsenal win the race, a 20% sell-on clause will be placed into any future sale of Szoboszlai which will apply to the entire future fee as opposed to just the profit, which is common in these circumstances.

It’s not ideal for any club, and is an unusual scenario, but Salzburg could ask for Szoboszlai’s contract to include Hot Wheels tracks installed in every room of his future club’s training ground and nobody would argue against it, such is his talent. With a sky-high ceiling and resale value, it’s not worth fretting over.

Where does this leave Arsenal, then?

Do Arsenal Have the Money?

To answer a question with a question, does anybody know the answer to that?

On the penultimate evening of the summer transfer window, all the papers and requests were signed off for Arsenal to make their move for Thomas Partey. In the blink of an eye, it came to light the following morning and by nightfall, the Ghanaian had joined Arsenal.

In order to secure their man, the Kroenke’s sanctioned the deal.

Having spent the previous weeks toiling away with Lyon over the odd million here and there, Les Gones pulled the plug on Houssem Aouar‘s proposed move to north London since the Gunners didn’t cough up the acceptable amount. This being a fee that was less than what was eventually paid for Partey.

Is it as simple as the owners dipping into their pockets once more? Arteta has already worryingly stated his awareness of the ‘limitations’ facing his side next month both financially and in terms of the market.

As Ornstein states:

"“Szoboszlai is being considered by Arsenal as they look to enhance their creativity and goalscoring capabilities, but he is one of several options and it remains to be seen if they will enter the battle.”"

Several options are being considered, the bulk, if not all, one can assume would constitute a financially kinder outlay. In reality, who could come in for less than €25m and improve the squad’s creative dearth?

If Szoboszlai is being considered, and all the talk heavily suggests his name has been mentioned in all corners of the club, then the finance is there. There would be no use discussing the option if it was beyond their capabilities. Whether that is achieved by owner intervention or by balancing the books remains unknown.

How Desperately Do Arsenal Need Szoboszlai?

He won’t be staying at Red Bull Salzburg beyond the winter window. If he does, it would come as an almighty surprise.

When you’re wanted by RB Leipzig, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Tottenham, you don’t hang about. These aren’t just any random sides either. All of those mentioned are either top of their domestic divisions or not far behind. If Szoboszlai would improve them, he’d improve Arsenal.

How desperately do Arsenal need him, though? Requiring someone who can bring goals – not necessarily scoring them – and guile, a creative force who can open up matches with a touch of class or an eye of the needle pass only he sees is imperative.

Quality centrally in the final third, whether that be someone who can make aggressive diagonal runs infield, or has the nous to operate in tight spaces between the lines and draw in opposition players to make space for others, such a player doesn’t exist at Arsenal who can make a difference now.

Adding Szoboszlai to this team would be most welcome. Is he the only player who could make Arsenal a greater offensive force? Absolutely not. Is he the cheapest, most in-form, age-appropriate and suited to the transfer strategy available? Absolutely.

It’s less a case of how do you fit him into this team, and more, how don’t you?

Of course, Arsenal require multiple creative options. Two, at least. Someone who can do what Mesut Ozil is deemed no longer capable of, and someone to replace Aaron Ramsey, whose absence is felt deeply. Santi Cazorla was never replaced, eithter. That’s not even difficult to analyse, none have been accounted for in any market.

Szoboszlai wouldn’t absolve Arsenal, but he’d sure help.