Arsene Wenger to drastically trim his Emirates Stadium squad ahead of moves to spend significant funds on new additions.
Check in to Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion
Arsenal are set to conduct a major squad re-shuffle and as many as 13 members of their first team could be on their way out this summer.
CaughtOffside understands that whilst Arsene Wenger will be handed a significant transfer war-chest he has been told he needs to partially fund such moves from the sale of outgoing players whilst also encouraged to trim the overall size of his Gunners squad.
Wenger has adopted a transfer strategy that has seen the north London club farm out players on repeated loan deals, as many as 17 having been sent out on temporary deals this term, but the Emirates Stadium board will push the French manager to take stock of those in his squad he genuinely feels are of real value whilst pushing him to permanent offload those who are deemed surplus to requirements.
Arsenal are trying manfully to retain the services of French right-back Bacary Sagna but won’t be bullied into accepting his £100k a week wage demands, having already agreed to adjust their approach to senior players over the age of 30 by offering the defender a three year contract, and as such expect to lose the long-serving player.
Lukasz Fabianski has impressed in cup action but the back-up keeper’s deal is set to come to a completion and Arsene Wenger is ready to allow the Pole to leave as he targets a custodian to challenge Wojciech Szczesny for the Arsenal starting spot.
Thomas Vermaelen is frustrated at his lack of first team starts and after 18 months acting as back-up to Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny the Belgian will demand guarantees of regular action that Wenger will be unable to provide and as such Arsenal will seek to cash-in on the former Ajax man and will look to bank as much as £10m from his sale.