Arsenal prepare stunning yet questionable summer clear-out

Arsenal have been tipped to undergo a major summer clear-out, one that is well-documented as needing to happen, although some of the decisions are both hopeful and questionable.

Between now and the end of the season Arsenal will be linked with the usual swarm of names just like any number of clubs will be hovering around their own players.

Mikel Arteta will have his own vision in place for who should be moved on and which replacements will be brought in, with the groundwork in that department already laid with the contract terminations of numerous fringe stars during the January window.

Those departures saw the wage bill cut by £700k, but further reductions have to be made with fans not expected to return in any capacity for the remainder of the season and the club taking out a £120m short-term loan from The Bank of England.

Arsenal stunning summer clear-out includes Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira, with Dani Ceballos and Mat Ryan to sign permanently

Loan deals were also secured for Sead Kolasinac, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Joe Willock, with The Sun reporting even further cost-cutting measures will be taken come the summer.

With the outgoings totalling £16.5m saved on wages until the end of the year, other members of Arteta’s squad whose contracts are nearing completion will have their futures resolved to free up space on the wage bill.

There is nothing far-fetched in suggesting that Alexandre Lacazette could be on the move to raise funds with just one year left on his deal, and while there are conflicting reports circulating – as per usual – David Luiz being released when his contract expires is not out of the realms of possibility.

Neither is securing a buyer for Kolasinac, whose future is well and truly over at Arsenal despite only being out on a six-month loan. Schalke 04 are desperate to sign him permanently but can only do so if they successfully dodge relegation from the Bundesliga, a seemingly impossible task.