Arsenal set for minor summer financial boost

Arsenal are historically poor sellers. Players are either held on for too long and sold with their careers past them, allowed to run down their contracts and thus leave for pittance or mistakes are made when the right bids arrive.

Sometimes, however, they get it right. Alex Iwobi was a freak incident when Everton bizarrely paid over £30m for him, while the £35m received for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain proved to be a roaring success. £30m was laughed off for Emile Smith Rowe and while we’re yet to know how successful that may be, nobody has any doubts whatsoever.

Then there are the Serge Gnabry’s of this sport. Players whose potential was never fully realised and are now world-beaters. Seeing him struggle at West Brom gave the decision credence, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Yet to complete any permanent sales this summer window with two loans with obligations to buy for Matteo Guendouzi and Konstantinos Mavropanos sanctioned, it’s actually a departure four years ago that will hand Arsenal some immediate cash.

Arsenal set for minor summer financial boost as Donyell Malen closes in on £25m summer transfer to Borussia Dortmund

Not exactly a life changing sum of money for the club, mind you.

Donyell Malen turned down the offer of an extended contract at Arsenal in pursuit of regular minutes in 2017. Notching 27 goals or assists in 58 appearances across youth levels, the Dutchman departed to PSV for £250k that summer, going from strength to strength ever since.

55 goals in 116 outings for PSV, including 30 in his last 46 Eredivisie outings, has seen him become a regular fixture in the Netherlands national squad. Now, he’s about to become Jadon Sancho’s replacement at Borussia Dortmund.

Weeks of talks are set to culminate in a £25m move to the Bundesliga side, one which will see Arsenal pocket a whopping £250k. Don’t spend it all at once.

Better than a poke in the eye, Malen’s move to PSV was agreed with the Gunners including a 1% bonus as part of a youth player requirement, as noted by football.london. Meanwhile his side before Arsenal, Ajax, will earn 1.5% of the fee. Anderlecht demanded one for Albert Sambi Lokonga.

At 22 years old he has plenty of his career ahead of him, and this move showcases the importance of negotiation. While this isn’t one, sell-on clauses with the same financial benefit are not something Arsenal have been especially smart with, but it’s noted that this is something the club will seek to do more of in the coming years.

With head of football operations and contract expert Richard Garlick on board, there is thought to be lessons learned. Liverpool have shown their expertise in this department while Chelsea, as a recent example, negotiated a sell-on clause and matching rights on a future move for Marc Guehi, who signed for Crystal Palace on an £18m deal despite having yet to make a Premier League appearance.

It isn’t much for Arsenal, but every little helps.