Arsenal are planning a significant overhaul of the first-team squad with up to eight players set to leave the club in the coming months, according to Daily Telegraph reporter Matt Law.
Granit Xhaka‘s €15m (£13m) switch to Bayer Leverkusen is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks but Law claims that many others will also be heading for the exit door:
Arsenal interested in Joao Cancelo but fear Man City may not be so willing to do business this year / and prepare offer worth £92m for Declan Rice #afc #mcfc #whufc https://t.co/IGxiNTHj56
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) May 17, 2023
Kieran Tierney is set to lead the exodus, with the likes of Rob Holding, Nuno Tavares and Folarin Balogun also likely to be sold if clubs match their valuations.
Emile Smith Rowe, Charlie Patino and Albert Sambi Lokonga could be offloaded if a buyer can be found this summer as well.
Why are so many players leaving Arsenal?
There are various reasons why these players look set to leave the Emirates. Xhaka is in the last year of his contract and he wants to play for a team prepared to hand him a new long-term deal.
Tierney, Balogun and Patino are all keen on getting more first-team football, while Holding, Lokonga and Tavares are not in Mikel Arteta’s plans. In terms of Smith Rowe, a lot could depend on the level of interest in the player and what sort of bids the club receive.