Arsenal eye surprise permanent Sead Kolasinac transfer sale

The term ‘deadwood’ is one that has been in use regarding Arsenal for a frighteningly long time. When the season concluded and everyone counted up the players they’d be happy to keep, given that most could just about fill one hand said it all.

That doesn’t imply all of them are ‘deadwood’ though, just that most would be moved on for a fee without so much as a second thought. Sead Kolasinac, however, epitomises the term.

If you are part of the aforementioned unwanted shrubbery then that not only means you’re not at the standard required but that you’re also of no use to the club at all. Having signed Nuno Tavares to come in as the Bosnian’s understudy first of all in the transfer window, and with two left-footed centre-backs also in the ranks, Kolasinac is therefore entirely useless to Arsenal.

That isn’t harsh. It’s true.

Arsenal eye surprise permanent Sead Kolasinac transfer sale with Lazio and Fenerbahce keen on signing Bosnian left-back this window

His big wages continue to take a chunk out of whatever the bank balance may read and unless he’s moved on this window he will be set for another Mesut Ozil-esque freezing out in the Premier League squad. Having returned from Schalke 04 on loan following their relegation, everything screamed contract cancellation.

Who would want to pay a transfer fee for the left-back when there would be a chance of him having his deal terminated? Wait for that and it’s just wages, with a potential signing on fee, to deal with.

It turns out that despite talk of an imminent termination, a couple of clubs are actually eyeing a permanent transfer. As per football.london, Lazio and Fenerbahce are among the sides looking to bring Kolasinac in this window, and both are eyeing summer purchases [insert Specsavers joke].

Naturally this suits Arsenal, who would rather avoid paying out his reported £5.2m salary to get him off the books, while also scooping a tidy fee to spend on signings.

Well, we say tidy, but any transfer fee for the 28-year-old would only be minimal given he has just one year left to run on his contract.

While there were groans at the £9m obligation Marseille have to sign Matteo Guendouzi permanently, there will be no such disgruntlement with Kolasinac so long as it’s something and not a payout.

A million? A million and a half? Who cares all that much. Despite there being no real qualms over his professionalism – he seems like a decent bloke in training – this is a move that all will be happy to see completed so long as Kolasinac is playing elsewhere come September 1.

Being reunited with Ozil would be nice for him. Let’s hope for that.