Report: Edu wants to sell Lacazette and two stars in Jan to fund £46m Arsenal transfer

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Arsenal director Edu is striving to sell Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah and Bernd Leno in the January transfer window in order to afford Lille’s Renato Sanches, per Calciomercato.

The Gunners are desperate to move Lacazette and Nketiah on before the strikers’ contracts expire in June. Neither are likely to pen new deals, leaving Edu at risk of both going for free.

Lacazette has remained on the same £182k-a-week deal since joining Arsenal from Lyon in 2017 for £46.5m. While Nketiah extended his terms later on in 2017 after his senior debut.

Mikel Arteta was previously keen for Arsenal to give Nketiah new terms, per the Daily Mail. But he wants to leave, and Goal now note Arteta is happy for the England U21 striker to go.

Lacazette also wants to leave the Emirates Stadium, per La Razon, with Atletico Madrid a possible destination. But he wants to go on a free transfer, which may hinder Edu’s plans.

Arsenal’s Technical Director hopes Lacazette, Nketiah and outcast goalkeeper Leno exiting in January will raise enough funds for the north Londoners to convince Lille to sell Sanches.

Edu feels the trio, plus the Gunners’ cash reserves, will allow him to offer €55m (£46m) for the Portuguese. A sum Les Dogues would find hard to turn down amid their financial issues.

Leno may prove to be the easiest of Arsenal’s unwanted trio for Edu to sell in January. The German also wants to leave, and may not oppose a mid-season exit, per football.london.

Will Arsenal sell Lacazette, Nketiah and Leno to fund Sanches transfer?

Edu could have his work cut out to sell Lacazette, Nketiah and Leno to afford a transfer for Lille’s Sanches.

The strikers’ may oppose mid-season exits to secure better contracts on free transfers next summer. They can also begin to negotiate pre-contracts with foreign sides from January.

Leno, meanwhile, wants to leave Arsenal as Aaron Ramsdale has become the first-choice in Arteta’s plans. But as the 29-year-old’s contract ends in 2023, he may not hold much value.