Report: Arsenal have agreed to let £18m Emery signing leave for free

Follow us on Google Discover

Arsenal have already completed the signings of Willian on a free transfer and Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille for £23.14 million (BBC).

Reports have also claimed that they are close to extending Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract, which is a brilliant start to the transfer window.

However, Arsenal are far from done. The Gunners need another player or two in midfield and they have been linked with a few big names. Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar are reportedly their priority targets this summer but, to sign them, they have to raise funds through player sales.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles came close to leaving but his recent performances have changed Mikel Arteta’s mind. Hector Bellerin has also been linked with a move away, as have Alexandre Lacazette and Matteo Guendouzi.

Arsenal will make good money by selling any of the above, yet there are players in the squad who are not worth a lot in this difficult transfer market.

That said, Arsenal still have to find a way to move a few of these players on this summer to reduce their wage bill. Mesut Ozil is the one they are desperate to get rid of but it looks like the German is going nowhere.

There are others who would potentially be open to leaving the club in search of game time. One such player is Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

The Greek international, signed by Unai Emery from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2018 for a fee of just under £18 million (Guardian), has lost his place since Mikel Arteta’s arrival.

Sokratis featured for just three minutes after Project Restart and he is clearly someone who is no longer in Arteta’s plans. Serie A side Napoli are very interested in the defender and it looks like Arsenal will help the Italians get their man.

Gazzetta dello Sport claim today that Sokratis has reached an agreement with Arsenal which would allow him to leave the Emirates for Napoli on a free transfer.

The report claims that the Greek international will sign a two-year contract worth around £3.17 million per season in Italy and the move is expected to be completed in the near future.

Arsenal would make a big loss on the defender, but getting rid of his wages should be viewed as a positive. The Gunners will now be able to use those wages on potential new signings, giving them a better chance of achieving their targets this season.