Arsenal: 14 summer transfer window sales that could happen

After just over two weeks of the summer transfer window opening, Arsenal have signed off on their first departure of the senior squad with Konstantinos Mavropanos re-joining Stuttgart on an initial loan deal. One down, plenty more to go.

The Greek defender leaving for a fee that could rise to £5m is pittance. Sven Mislintat will be rubbing his hands together like Mr Burns over a deal for a player who, on his current trajectory, could easily be worth £15m next season.

As fans sit and stew over just how much money Arsenal have, seeing players leave for such minor amounts – only £500k is upfront as the loan fee – can be slightly concerning for what is to come.

Ben White and Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, if successful as expected, will set the Gunners back in the region of £67m combined. Hoping there is sense among the club hierarchy not to blow the budget in one fell swoop implies there is more of that to come, although the transfer pot will undoubtedly need the aid of significant player departures to help.

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Arsenal: 14 summer transfer window sales that could or should happen as Arteta switches focus to departures to raise funds for new signings.

Once the aforementioned deals are signed, sealed and delivered, attention will turn to the above.

An outstanding amount of exits have to be sanctioned to ease the wage bill and trim the squad for a season without European football, which is easier said than done.

It’s no secret that the European market has never been more primed and ready to raid. Clubs across the continent are in dire financial straits due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with Ligue 1, for example, even harder hit with their TV rights issues.

That opportunity presents itself to the wealthier Premier League sides, although it has the opposite effect when it comes to finding buyers for their players outside of England. In other words, Arsenal need to be prepared to accept lower than they’d like.

With sales taking centre stage, here are 14 players who could, and in some cases should, be heading for the exit door.

1. Bernd Leno & 2. Runar Alex Runarsson

Contract expiry: 2023 & 2024
Realistic transfer fee: £13-15m & £1.50
Interested clubs: Absolutely zero

Bernd Leno’s future is and will remain unsolved until Germany return home from the European Championships, which is unlikely to be anytime soon with England their next opponents (sigh) and then a similarly favourable run-in all the way until the final.

All the noises are that he wants a fresh challenge and Arsenal will move him on if they can, yet there has been precious little interest of note in regards to the 29-year-old. Borussia Dortmund have been fleetingly mentioned but nothing concrete.

Talk was that Arsenal wanted what they paid for him if a buyer entered the fray but across Europe you’ll be hard pressed to find someone willing to stump up the near £20m spent. A bit cheaper, yes, and if someone offered £15m you’d expect a sale to happen.

As for Alex Runarsson, the likelihood is that he will be sent out on loan this summer. What, however, is the point of that? He won’t be Arsenal standard anytime soon and with two promising goalkeepers waiting in the wings, especially Arthur Okonkwo, let one of the academy prospects take that third spot.

Costing £1.5m, it’s unlikely Arsenal will get a third of that.