Charlie Adam has suggested that he thinks Arsenal are about to do some very smart business by bringing in Gabriel and letting Ainsley Maitland-Niles go, as per his comments to the Monday Night club, which was broadcast on Radio Five Live.
Arsenal are expected to bring in Gabriel from Lille in the near future, with Maitland-Niles now likely to head out of the exit door.
Sky Sports have reported how Wolves are in advanced talks to sign the Arsenal right-back.
And Adam thinks that the Gunners have done a very smart deal, as they have sold Maitland-Niles to improve an area of their squad which needed renovations.
“Maitland-Niles looks like he’s going to go for £20 million,” the pundit said at 7:35pm.
“Arsenal are in a financial problem and they have plenty of right-backs, so to trade one for £20 million and get Gabriel in from Lille will be a good bit of business.”
Adam thinks that the move could turn out to be a smart one for the player too.
“You can go out and go and play games,” the former Liverpool player added.
“These clubs come and buy you back for more money. He’s seen it as a progression for his career. If he sits at Arsenal he might only get 20 appearnaces, but if he goes to Wolves he might play every game.
“In two years time he might end up at one of the big clubs and get an opportunity.”
There has been some disappointment expressed about Maitland-Niles’ departure from Arsenal fans, but it does seem that Mikel Arteta was under pressure to sell to buy.
With Hector Bellerin first-choice at right-back it, perhaps, wasn’t too much of a surprise to see Maitland-Niles depart.
Arsenal clearly needed a starting central defender more than a back-up full-back, given their problems at the back last term, and there are high hopes for Gabriel.
The Lille man is expected walk straight into Arteta’s starting line-up, where he could partner David Luiz or William Saliba.
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