Arsenal are very keen on raising funds through player sales this summer. Multiple fringe players will be allowed to leave if a suitable offer comes in, and the Gunners might even consider loan deals to take some players’ massive salaries off their books.
One such player is Sead Kolasinac. The Bosnian came in on a free transfer from Schalke back in the summer of 2017 but he hasn’t quite lived up to all the hype.
Kolasinac is now well down the pecking order at Arsenal. Kieran Tierney is Mikel Arteta’s first-choice left-back while Bukayo Saka and even Ainsley Maitland-Niles have been preferred there ahead of the former Schalke man.
Kolasinac was deployed at centre-back for a few games but a costly mistake against Tottenham in the Premier League cost him a place there as well.
Arsenal will now have William Saliba and if reports are to be believed, Gabriel Magalhaes as options at centre-half next season along with their long list of central defenders.
That reduces the need for Kolasinac who will need to leave the club in order secure regular game time. Thankfully for him, a club he adores wants him back and have started talks with Arsenal over a potential move.
Kolasinac could return to Schalke
Sky Sports have claimed today that Kolasinac’s former club, Schalke, are in talks with Mikel Arteta’s side to bring the defender back to Gelsenkirchen this summer.
However, the Royal Blues are in a terrible financial position at the moment which almost certainly rules out a permanent deal. Schalke want Kolasinac on a season-long loan but that deal isn’t straight forward either.
The Bosnian, because he joined Arsenal as a free agent, was given a very lucrative contract. The report claims that he currently earns £7.22 million every year which equates to about £140,000 a week.
That is a lot of money for a player who will barely feature for the Gunners next season. Sending him on loan makes sense but Schalke are reportedly not willing to cover all of his wages.
The Bundesliga outfit are in negotiations with Arsenal over a loan deal where they will only cover a part of the Bosnian’s salary. Kolasinac is open to the move but it will be interesting to see how Arsenal view the offer.
Sending him out on loan will ease the pressure on their wage bill which will, in turn, help them secure deals for their top targets. However, a permanent deal away is something that they would try to make happen this summer but it looks unlikely at this stage.
Arsenal’s record transfer deals
- Nicolas Pepe
£72 million
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
£56 million
- Alexandre Lacazette
£52 million
- Thomas Partey
45 million
- Mesut Ozil
£42 million
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