Arsenal must ‘sacrifice’ one of two stars to Saudi clubs to fund Alexander Isak transfer

Add as preferred source on Google

Two Arsenal stars are attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, and the North London club could cash in to fund major signings for Mikel Arteta’s squad.

The Gunners are in desperate need of a prolific striker in the summer, although such an acquisition won’t be cheap.

Kai Havertz could be out until the start of next season, while Gabriel Jesus won’t be available until at least December after sustaining an ACL tear.

Thus, at least one central forward, and probably a wide player, are needed in N5, with a plethora of targets already being identified.

• READ MORE: Arsenal handed William Saliba transfer boost after what Real Madrid have just done

Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are attracting interest from Saudi clubs

Alexander Isak is Arsenal’s dream target, although Newcastle are likely to demand a fee in excess of £120 million for their talisman.

While there is understood to be money for the Gunners to spend in the summer, sanctioning a single deal of this significance appears unlikely.

However, a major sale could help facilitate a blockbuster move for Isak, and there are some options emerging for Arsenal on this front.

According to the Mirror, both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have plenty of suitors in Saudi Arabia.

Trossard was the subject of Saudi interest in the summer, but Arsenal ultimately opted to reject the offers on the table and keep the Belgian.

Now, however, the North Londoners would consider selling the 30-year-old as he enters the latter stages of his career and begins to show signs of decline.

Martinelli may present the more attractive sale, with the Brazilian likely to garner a larger fee from the Middle East.

The 23-year-old winger has struggled to rediscover his best form this season, but this hasn’t deterred Saudi Pro League clubs from taking an interest.

Ultimately, selling one of the two is a strategic move that Arteta and the Emirates hierarchy have to make, in order to fund the signing of a superstar like Isak.

• READ MORE: Arsenal can immediately agree deal to sign Thomas Partey replacement who has won the league eight times

Arsenal should sell Leandro Trossard over Gabriel Martinelli

While Martinelli might fetch Arsenal £20 million or so more than his counterpart, the club should still opt to cash in on Trossard.

The fomer Brighton man has netted just five goals across all competitions this season, and is visibly a worse player this campaign than last term.

This downward trajectory is only likely to continue as he ages, with his best years almost definitely behind him.

Meanwhile, at 23, Martinelli can still rediscover his best form, and can still be a dependable rotation option in a squad gunning for the Premier League title.

Sentimentally, it’ll be tough for Arsenal fans to see either player go, but one has to for the sake of the long-term project.