Arsenal are open to selling Brazil winger Gabriel Martinelli following the completion of a £75m deal to sign his compatriot Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United.
Guimaraes adds further strength to an Arsenal midfield that already includes Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The arrival of the Brazil international is part of a wider reshaping of Mikel Arteta’s squad, with Arsenal also increasing their options on the wings by signing Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge in a deal worth £34m.
Arteta approved the move for the Greece international after allowing Leandro Trossard to leave the club for £15m in a transfer to Besiktas.
However, Trossard may not be the only Arsenal winger to depart the Emirates Stadium. Martinelli has also emerged as a possible summer departure, according to the English newspaper Metro.
Martinelli has been an important player for Arsenal since joining the club, making 278 appearances for the London side in all competitions. Despite that record, his influence was limited during the previous campaign.
The Brazilian scored only once in 30 Premier League appearances last season, and he is expected to fall behind new signing Tzolis in Arteta’s preferred order of wingers.
Metro reports that Arsenal have received an attractive offer from Galatasaray for Martinelli, although the article does not state whether the club has accepted the proposal or whether negotiations have advanced.
The potential change in Martinelli’s status comes after a busy period of recruitment and departures at Arsenal. Guimaraes has added another established option in midfield, while Tzolis gives Arteta greater competition and flexibility in wide positions.
With Trossard already leaving for Besiktas and Tzolis arriving from Club Brugge, Martinelli’s position in the squad is now under consideration. His long service and 278 appearances remain evidence of his importance to Arsenal, but his reduced output last season and the arrival of another winger could affect his future at the Emirates Stadium.
The £75m signing of Guimaraes has therefore been followed by further questions over Arsenal’s attacking options. Martinelli is now being linked with a move away, with Galatasaray reported to have made an appealing offer for the Brazilian.
