The mood around Arsenal has been incredible over the last two weeks. The Gunners clinched the FA Cup, made it into the Europa League next season and are in a much better financial situation than they were before the cup final.
It also looks like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will renew his contract at the club as well (Telegraph). That is a massive boost for Mikel Arteta ahead of his first full season in charge but he still has a lot of decisions to make.
The Gunners are expected to be fairly active in the transfer window. Arsenal have been linked with a number of players but despite their improved financial situation, they might have to sell a few to raise funds.
Two players who have been linked with a move away from the Emirates are Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Hector Bellerin.
The Englishman is reportedly a target for a number of Premier League sides this summer. The Sun recently claimed that Maitland-Niles is attracting interest from West Ham, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal are open to selling him but they have slapped a £30 million asking price to part ways with him.
Bellerin is another one who the Gunners are prepared to sell. The Telegraph claimed two weeks ago that Arsenal would entertain offers for the 24-year-old Spaniard, who could likely fetch a fee similar to that of Maitland-Niles, if not more.
Arsenal will not sell both Bellerin and Maitland-Niles
It makes sense for Arsenal to move one of the above-mentioned players on. Apart from Matteo Guendouzi and Alexandre Lacazette, Bellerin and Maitland-Niles are arguably the two players who will fetch the most money without hurting the squad too much.
However, there is no way Arsenal will sanction a move away for both this summer. Bellerin is the Gunners’ first-choice right-back while Maitland-Niles, despite not naturally being a full-back, has been used there the most in his career.
Cedric Soares is Arsenal’s only other right-back option and the Portuguese international cannot manage four competitions on his own next season.
One of Bellerin or Maitland-Niles could be sacrificed this summer, even if Arteta would like to hold on to both. However, it makes no sense to let both of them go and, contrary to reports, there is no way Arsenal will do that this summer.
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