Arsenal: 7 pre-season players in line for transfer departures

In pre-season almost every facet of matches needn’t be delved into too deeply. Individual performances have to be taken with a pinch of salt, as does fitness, although Mikel Arteta offered a fair hint with his Arsenal lineup against Rangers.

Due to playing Hibernian in the week there were always going to be alterations to the side, although it was noticeably different with the team at Ibrox.

A game in which Arsenal dominated and created numerous opportunities to score somehow managed to finish all square, thanks to another batch of slack defending from set pieces.

After the game Arteta hinted at new additions arriving to complement those already brought in, but it’s in the departure section where equal measures of concern have arisen.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1416442580942823425

Arsenal: 7 pre-season players in line for transfer departures this summer window as Gunners prepare for trip to the USA for the Florida Cup

Yet to sanction a single permanent transfer, the exits of Matteo Guendouzi, Konstantinos Mavropanos and William Saliba have only offered small loan fees thus far. Granted, the first two are almost certain full-time exits following the completion of their 12-month moves, so in many ways the cash is already in north London.

Still, seeing a whole host of players take to the pitch in pre-season – many of whom are gunning for exits or will be pushed out – still not secure any transfers out of north London is a growing concern.

Interested clubs do know what they are doing, though. Aware Arsenal need to ship these bodies out, biding their time until the latter part of the window may help them secure smaller fees. That comes with the caveat with the preference of getting new additions bedded in soon.

Looking at Arteta’s starting lineup compared to his bench at Ibrox, he almost spelled it out for us. Who is staying and who could be going were separated by a white line. Here are seven to feature in pre-season so far who could be on the move.

1. Karl Hein – Goalkeeper

Interested clubs: Brighton

Conceding two goals in pre-season that he could have done nothing about, Karl Hein made a couple of strong saves in both games in Scotland that will do him the world of good this summer.

That’s mainly because he looks set to leave.

Battling with Arthur Okonkwo for a starting berth in the youth setups last season, it was Okonkwo who won the battle for seniority after signing a long-term contract and being jumped up to the first team.

Talks have stalled over a new contract for the 19-year-old Estonian and Brighton have shown their interest this summer as the look for a replacement for Mat Ryan.

The minutes he’s earned in pre-season will have helped interested parties make up their minds.

2. Hector Bellerin – Right-Back

Interested clubs: Inter, Real Betis, Sevilla, Villarreal

The fact that Cedric has started both of the pre-season matches in Scotland ahead of Hector Bellerin despite being nowhere near usurping him in the lineup during the end of last season is a strong indicator of what is to come.

If the Spaniard were to get injured at this stage it would be hugely detrimental to Arsenal’s summer plans as the £17m they want for his services will go a long way towards helping them secure their targets.

Well known is that it is Inter who are leading the chase for the 25-year-old’s signature and Bellerin has even informed Arsenal that they are his preference during this window.

Any move hinges on the Serie A champions agreeing to an obligation to purchase following an initial season-long loan, with Arsenal softening their stance on demanding a permanent sale and now trying to convince Simeone Inzaghi’s side to drop their preference for an optional purchase.

He may well travel to Florida and hop on Inter’s plane back.

3. Sead Kolasinac – Left-Back

Interested clubs: Lazio, Fenerbahce

It’s very odd seeing Sead Kolasinac in an Arsenal shirt. Even if his move to Schalke 04 was merely a six month loan, the general feeling of it being a permanent cutting of ties was hard to shake.

Well, he’s back, and Arsenal are so low on fit defenders that he even played centre-back for the second half against Rangers. In truth, he hasn’t done all too badly in either pre-season games. By his own standards, that is.

There is interest in him from Italy and Turkey but how serious they will be about that remains to be seen.

Kolasinac knows he has no future in north London and his replacement has already been bought, so it may be that an unwanted contract termination occurs so he doesn’t stay put and run down his deal by which time he’ll have be able to secure far healthier financial packages.

However, he’ll surely want to make a move this window and settle down elsewhere. A reunion with Mesut Ozil, perhaps?

4. Joe Willock – Midfielder

Interested clubs: Newcastle

Of all the options available to Arsenal involving Joe Willock, sending him out on a dry season-long loan is indisputably the worst one of all.

Despite a magnificent loan spell with Newcastle, it’s the Magpies who are the only side interested in his signature. The sticking point to that is that have no money. At least nowhere close to what is being demanded.

With speculation heightening that he will be loaned out to Steve Bruce’s side, the sense of logic appears lost. Unless he goes out and bags 25 goals from midfield next season then his value will not increase any more than it is now. And without being too harsh, that simply will not happen.

There are two decisions to make: sell him or find a way of incorporating him into the side. Sending him out on loan with a contract extension only has the possibility of lowering his valuation. There is no clear upside unless he miraculously maintains his form from last season.

Willock is someone who can be of use to Arsenal next season if he stays, but it won’t be much more than the occasional outing and injury cover. A loan does nothing but benefit Newcastle.

5. Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Midfielder

Interested clubs: Crystal Palace, Southampton, Leeds, Everton

While the caveat of sample size and competitive level is needed, Ainsley Maitland-Niles won’t have done himself any harm with his 45 minute outing against Rangers.

Coming into midfield he was lively and proactive, demanding possession and feeding the wide players with pace and direction. Rangers were pegged back making his job easier, yet it was a comfortable showing from him following an okay outing against Hibernian.

There are faint murmurs of interested Premier League clubs with no concrete movement yet, and the likelihood is that Maitland-Niles’ agent is running through the offers being floated around to see who is willing to dish out the most alluring deal. His versatility alone will be enough to attract admiring glances.

Arsenal should be getting a decent fee, perhaps around the £15m mark, for the 23-year-old who you imagine is using every minute he has on the pitch in pre-season to raise his profile.

That is also unfair as being an Arsenal lad he will surely still harbour dreams of playing in midfield for his boyhood club, despite Arteta seeming to think otherwise.

Or, if we’re hypothesising, does two fixtures playing in central midfield perhaps hint to some different ideas brewing in the Spaniard’s mind?

6. Reiss Nelson – Forward

Interested clubs: Crystal Palace, Brighton, Brentford

Reiss Nelson and his representatives will have a decision on their hands this summer and, truth be told, it looks set to be an inviting one.

On the basis that the three interested clubs meet Arsenal’s demands, the options laid out for him make for pleasant viewing: they’re all nice clubs.

Even with his future destined to be away from north London the minutes he’s playing in pre-season have demonstrated a real willingness to impress. He’s tried to get on the ball as much as possible and impact the games in a positive way, with his second half showing against Rangers demonstrating that.

When he does eventually leave Arsenal fans will be keen to see him perform over a 38-game season. Despite bursting onto the scene at a young age we’ve not been treated to a free-flowing Nelson, and whether that is elsewhere in London or down on the south coast, he has a bright future ahead of him.

Arsenal aren’t exactly in a position to be demanding £15-£20m for him and if a £12m(ish) offer comes in with him having only a year left on his deal, it’s one that the club have no choice but to accept. That would be a strong deal.

7. Eddie Nketiah – Striker

Interested clubs: Brighton, Crystal Palace, West Ham

Eddie Nketiah has had a rough ride from supporters over the past 12 months. Naturally, and especially on social media, the criticism turns to unwarranted abuse and is blown way out of proportion, but there is no hiding from the fact he’s been disappointing.

Rejecting the contract offered to him by Arsenal was the right decision. At 21 years old he needs stability in his career and having not been chosen at all during the latter half of last season despite the injuries to other strikers, what use is it to him going on loan for a season only to return and be sold off again?

He won’t have the pick of the division when it comes to his summer move but there are, like Nelson, a few pleasant options for him to explore.

There were unsubstantiated claims of a £12m bid from Crystal Palace for his services with Arsenal holding out for more, which if true they might need to ease off on. £15m would be more than ideal.

However, as the window progresses the Gunners aren’t in a position to play hardball unless they can drum up a bidding war, which seems unlikely.

(there is also Willian and Cedric but it just won’t happen, will it? Alexandre Lacazette also appears to be staying)