According to reports in The Daily Mirror, Unai Emery has sanction the sale of two key players in the summer as he wants to bring in four new players in order to strengthen the midfield and defensive position. Henrik Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal future are in doubt. The Gunners are keen to offload the both midfielders this summer as they try to reduce their huge wage bill.
The former Manchester United midfielder is one of the top earners at Arsenal as he is on £180,000 per week pay after arriving last year January. But, as with £350,000 a week World Cup winner Ozil, new boss Unai Emery believes Mkhitaryan’s salary could be better spent elsewhere as he bids to reshape his squad.
Arsenal’s finances are strained with their wage bill, in particular, inflated. Emery was restricted to loan signings in the January window and could start the summer with a transfer budget of just £45million if Arsenal fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League either with a top-four finish or as Europa League winners. The confirmed free-agent departure of Aaron Ramsey to Juventus, Petr Cech’s retirement and Danny Welbeck’s likely release will help, but finding buyers for 30-year-old Mkhitaryan and Ozil, who turns 31 in October, will go a long way to significantly easing the burden.
The Armenia international joined Arsenal in the swap deal that saw Alexis Sanchez head to Manchester United, and neither man has lived up to expectation with their new clubs – albeit the Chilean was been a bigger disappointment than Mkhitaryan – and both clubs are keen to move on their costly attackers.
Despite the size of his budget, Emery is targeting up to four signings this summer, with a left-sided winger his priority. Left-back, where Celtic’s Scotland international Kieran Tierney is in his sights, central defence and central/attacking midfield are other positions the Emirates chief is keen to strengthen.
Emery’s chances of signing £43m-rated Italy star Nicolo Barella could depend on whether Arsenal qualify for the Champions League. Cagliari midfielder Barella, who scored his first goal for his country against Finland on Saturday, is seen as a replacement for Ramsey but the 22-year-old’s asking price could be a big problem.
Arsenal hope to boost their finances by offloading Mohamed Elneny, Calum Chambers and Shkodran Mustafi. They signed midfielder Denis Suarez on loan from Barcelona in January, but he has failed to impress and the Gunners are unlikely to take up their option to make the move permanent.
D