Arsenal’s Sead Kolasinac Begins Squad Clearout – Details Revealed

Arsenal are beginning their squad clearout with Sead Kolasinac to join Schalke 04 on loan.

It’s nothing new to suggest that Arsenal need to trim some serious deadwood within their squad. Fans having been banging that drum for years.

In that very same period, little has happened.

Players who are not at the level required to play for the club have been petering on the edge of departure, only for brief spells of decent form to trick people into a false sense of security. X and Y performed well in the last couple of matches, therefore maybe we were wrong all along?

Sead Kolasinac falls into that bracket, although his ‘good’ games have become a thing of the past. The Bosnian fits neatly into the deadwood bracket.

https://twitter.com/seadk6/status/1333890096605573127

As per Sky Germany – and echoed elsewhere – the 27-year-old is in advanced talks with former club Schalke 04 over rejoining the Bundesliga side on a six-month loan deal in January. As stated, the contract is ‘already signed’. Full confirmation is expected on New Year’s Day.

BILD add details stating that Schalke will pay Arsenal a €3m loan, while Kolasinac will become the new Schalke captain.

Spending seven years with the German side before moving to Arsenal in 2017, Kolasinac has been said to be desperate to return to his former stomping ground. The deal will be temporary, unless Die Königsblauen retain their top-flight status, in which case it can be made permanent.

Key to the agreement is that Mikel Arteta‘s side will share the full-back’s wages with Schalke, and that Kolasinac is taking a 50% pay cut to satisfy his former side’s limited finances.

While Kolasinac has not been the player many hoped he could be, he deserves immense credit for doing what few players do, sacrificing money for minutes.

Being close to his friends and family is important, but above all he isn’t happy with his lack of playing time in north London. Good on him for doing so. However, as the news filters through, it’s become apparent that Kolasinac is not the only likely departure in the coming weeks.

Arsenal aren’t in great shape themselves, but home comforts and a desire to play have made Kolasinac’s mind up. Supporters will wish him all the best.