Arsenal: 6 defensive players in line for summer departures

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta arrives for the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 6, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – DECEMBER 11: Konstantinos Mavropanos of Stuttgart celebrates scoring the first goal during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and VfB Stuttgart at Volkswagen Arena on December 11, 2021 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) /

4. Konstantinos Mavropanos

The Greek defender has been a revelation for Stuttgart this season, regularly finding himself in the Bundesliga team of the week and garnering rave reviews from across Europe. Big hitters like West Ham have been monitoring his progress and fees as high as £25m were even being mentioned.

Penning a season-long loan deal with Stuttgart that included an obligation to buy at the end of the campaign, the terms of that were dependent on the German side avoiding relegation.

At the time of writing they sit three points adrift of safety.

Paying a £500k loan fee, the obligation to buy, including bonuses, will amount to around £5m. However, if the side don’t avoid the drop then that purchase clause only becomes optional and Stuttgart have financial issues that with relegation will make them unlikely to sign him permanently.

That plays into Arsenal’s favour hugely, with Mavropanos under contract until 2023.

Estimated fee: £5m (Stuttgart), £10m (elsewhere)

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