Mikel Arteta is planning the next stage of his Arsenal evolution as the Gunners look to go one better after consecutive second-placed finishes in the Premier League.
David Raya has joined on a permanent deal from Brentford, while Ajax youngster Tommy Setford looks set to follow to further boost the goalkeeping stocks. Elsewhere, Riccardo Calafiori’s transfer from Bologna has hit a slight hitch but should be completed.
Incomings tend to dominate the headlines but which names could leave Arsenal this summer? There are plenty of players in need of a new challenge and these five sales could boost the transfer coffers for Arteta to invest.
Here are five players Arsenal should sell this summer.
Aaron Ramsdale
Aaron Ramsdale is expected to move on this summer after losing his place as first-choice goalkeeper last season. After starting the season as number one, Ramsdale was replaced by David Raya with the latter winning the Premier League’s Golden Glove.
At 26 and with ambitions of remaining a part of the England set-up, Ramsdale will seek a new challenge this summer. However, no side has been willing to match an asking price of around ยฃ40m for the goalkeeper, while former suitors Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have strengthened their shot-stopping ranks with alternative options.
A move abroad has been mooted, but Ramsdale might prefer to remain in the Premier League where he can perform more prominently in front of Gareth Southgate’s eventual successor. A loan move is a potential option as clubs feel the pinch of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
????Aaron Ramsdale is likely to push for a move away from the Emirates having been relegated to second choice
Southampton have expressed an interest in the 26 year-old#saintsfc
[Kaya Kaynak] pic.twitter.com/8nuWh5jOc2โ Southampton FC Updates (@TheSaintCentre) July 18, 2024
Kieran Tierney
Arsenal will look to offload Kieran Tierney this summer after the left-back spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad. Injuries have plagued the Scotland international and he made just 14 starts in La Liga last season. Another hamstring setback curtailed his campaign at Euro 2024 and clubs will be cautious about investing a significant sum on the Scot.
Newcastle and Celtic baulked at Arsenal’s demands last summer but a cut-price fee could tempt both back to the table, with Tierney not part of Mikel Arteta’s plans. Tierney signed for Arsenal from Celtic in a Scottish-record ยฃ25m deal in 2019 and could leave for around half that figure this summer.
Happy birthday, Kieran Tierney ???? pic.twitter.com/gBZq5fxIkb
โ Arsenal (@Arsenal) June 5, 2024
Emile Smith Rowe
A controversial inclusion, perhaps, with Emile Smith Rowe a firm favourite at the Emirates. The truth, however, is Smith Rowe has fallen down the pecking order and needs a prominent role to fulfil his potential.
Since bursting onto the scene with 10 goals during the 2021-22 Premier League season, he has made just three league starts and totalled 511 minutes of action across the following two campaigns.
The 23-year-old earned three caps for England in 2021 and a regular run of football can elevate him back into contention despite the strong competition for places. Fulham and Crystal Palace have already seen offers turned down.
????Emile Smith Rowe is set to become the biggest sale in Arsenal history.
There is optimism a deal will be agreed with Fulham within the next week. pic.twitter.com/7MdkgpzVjy
โ now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) July 16, 2024
Reiss Nelson
Reiss Nelson turned down interest from other clubs to sign a long-term contract at Arsenal last summer but has been unable to establish himself as a regular.
The Hale End graduate played just 247 minutes of Premier League football in 2023-24 and has asked Arsenal to explore opportunities this summer.
Nelson will not be short of offers with Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brighton heavily linked with the 24-year-old, who has gained experience on loan at Hoffenheim and Feyenoord earlier in his career. Arsenal are believed to value the winger at around ยฃ25m.
???? West Ham are winning the race to sign 24-year-old Reiss Nelson, with Arsenal valuing him at ยฃ25m.
(Source: @talkSPORT) pic.twitter.com/KdkB4AJhYb
โ Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) July 18, 2024
Eddie Nketiah
The third Arsenal academy graduate seeking to get a stuttering career back on track.
Eddie Nketiah looked to have moved ahead of Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal in the opening months of the 2023-24 campaign, scoring on the opening weekend against Nottingham Forest before netting a first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United in October. An England debut arrived that month for a player who holds the national team goal record at u-21 level, with 16 in 17 appearances for the Young Lions.
However, Nketiah was unable to build on that momentum and lost his place to Kai Havertz during the second half of the campaign. He ended the season with just five league goals and a fresh challenge is required for the 25-year-old. Marseille and several English clubs are keen to give him the platform to succeed.
In the lab ???????? @UnderArmour pic.twitter.com/nO7rmWOHdW
โ Eddie Nketiah ???? (@EddieNketiah9) July 12, 2024
Read –ย Seven Premier League transfers you might have missed this summer
See more –ย Five players Chelsea should sell this summer
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I refused to agree that Nelson, Nketiah and Smith Rowe should be sold. You can sell Ramsdale and Tierney, but these other three are good players.
We won all the four games Smith Rowe started this season. Those there appeared in most of our nine loses are still at Arsenal simply because Arteta brought them in. The likes of Kiwior and Vieira should be sold.