Arsenal prepare stunning yet questionable summer clear-out

Dani Ceballos, Mat Ryan & Martin Odegaard Permanent Deal

As has become the trend at Arsenal, few players are universally agreed as being good or bad. Almost all the members of the squad divide opinion, just like Dani Ceballos.

In 62 matches for the Gunners spread over one and a half season, he’s contributed with two goals and four assists, not the numbers expected when he arrived in north London off the back of superb Under-21 European Championships. His form has ebbed and flowed without ever being spectacular and were it not for his impressive role at the tail end of last season that helped Arsenal win the FA Cup, he likely wouldn’t have returned for a second spell.

The above report claims that Arsenal want to keep him on permanently, a deal which is thought to cost them in the region of £20m-£25m. There are surely better midfielders to contribute such an outlay on.

Mat Ryan is also on the list to join full-time. Impressing in his one appearance to date, the goalkeeper offers experience behind Bernd Leno but is not the young, long-term successor the club have had in mind. If they can’t secure their main targets then a season-long loan would suit, just perhaps not a permanent transfer, even if it would be free as his deal with Brighton expires.

Martin Odegaard finishes off the list as it’s stated the Gunners ‘may seek to agree a fee with Real for Martin Odegaard’. All very speculative and based off of fan desires most likely, even if it has been touted as something on the club’s mind.

Of course, most of the players listed are either available for sale or among those the club will actively hope to move on, but as is usually the case in such stories, they lean heavily on the side of sensationalism. Throw a bunch of names mentioned over the past 12 months at the wall and see what sticks.

Whether one chooses to believe every word from The Sun – few do – is entirely down to you.