Pressure on Edu increasing as Arsenal need to make sales

With the transfer deadline on September 1st less than two weeks away, a lack of significant sales is becoming an ever-growing concern for Arsenal.

Arsenal will be desperate to clear the decks and recoup some funds in what remains of the transfer window. Edu will be feeling the heat when it comes to getting some significant sales made.

The likes of Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Nicolas Pepe all need to be moved on by Arsenal. There are also questions marks over the futures of Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, Folarin Balogun, Jorginho, and Mohamed Elneny.

Arsenal have spent heavily this summer. Over £200 million has been parted with in order to bring Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and David Raya to the Emirates Stadium.

As things stand, the Gunners have only been able to move on Granit Xhaka, Matt Turner, Aston Trusty, and Pablo Mari in permanent sales that have brought in cash.

Why sales are so important to Arsenal

Not only do Arsenal need money from sales, but Mikel Arteta needs the space in his squad that will be freed up with these fringe players out the door. 

A failure to get these departures confirmed would be a blight on the Gunners’ summer. It could also negatively impact their campaign on the pitch. A number of unhappy players, who are miles down the pecking order, being stuck at the club will only damage the harmony in Arteta’s squad and bring down morale in the dressing room.

All the good work that went into signing the likes of Rice this summer could be undone should Arsenal fail to shift their burdensome deadwood and trim their bloated squad.

Time is running out, though, and Edu may find he has to start lowering his demands when it comes to the asking price of certain players. The £50 million demanded for Balogun, for instance, may not be feasible.

At some point, Arsenal will need to adjust their expectations until they finally strike the perfect balance between receiving acceptable offers and clearing out the fringe players that must be moved on.

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