Arsenal To Sell Unwanted Midfield Stars To Raise Transfer Funds

Arsenal is planning to cash in on struggling midfielders Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, a report said.

Arsenal is keen on not only injecting more talents into its squad but also disposing of a few surplus players. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is planning to trim down his stacked roster, particularly the midfield department.

Arsenal is bound to raise around £67 million ($90 million) with the sale of two of its midfielders, Torreira and Guendouzi, The Times U.K. reported. The Uruguayan midfielder has a current price tag of around £27 million ($36 million), while Guendouzi is valued at £40 million ($53.4 million).

With the 21-year-old Frenchman's asking fee, however, a loan could be the likelier option.

The paper claimed Torreira and Guendouzi could be put up for sale this summer despite still being in contract with Arsenal, with the former already linked with Tuscany club Fiorentina.

Torreira’s future with the Gunners has been in doubt for quite some time after struggling with injuries and regular minutes.

He addressed his transfer rumors earlier this month during an interview on radio station Sport 890 in Uruguay. At the time, Torreira said that should he decide to leave Arsenal, he would have to think about it carefully and pick the “best possible destination.”

“I have to think thoroughly about my future. I have a contract with Arsenal and I have to respect it. Obviously, if I were to leave, I would do it for the best possible destination. We have to be calm and wait,” Torreira said.

The Uruguayan also admitted that he lost his confidence following an underwhelming campaign with Arsenal last season, saying, “This year has been more complicated: I have lost continuity and confidence. I do not like this.”

Guendouzi, meanwhile, has become a target of La Liga club Valencia. The Spanish side prefers a loan move instead of a permanent first-team transfer, Spanish outlet Super Deporte reported.

Arteta and Guendouzi previously had a falling out, particularly after the French midfielder clashed with Seagulls striker Neal Maupay in a June 20 game against Brighton.

Arsenal has not been lenient when it came to the midfielder’s antics, and Arteta even once told him to train alone with a fitness coach, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported.

Apart from the looming exit of Torreira and Guendouzi, Arsenal has just confirmed that another midfielder, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, has terminated his contract at the Emirates Stadium and joined Roma on a permanent deal.