Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey and striker Gabriel Jesus are reportedly both being head-hunted by Saudi Pro League clubs this summer.
Two Arsenal stars who have not been regulars in Mikel Arteta‘s starting lineup this season are reportedly being lined up for big-money moves to Saudi Arabia.
During the Gunners’ title-challenging 2022-23 season, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus both played key roles under Arteta, the former joining forces with Granit Xhaka in a formidable midfield.
Meanwhile, Jesus began the campaign as the Gunners’ focal point following his switch from Manchester City, although he was also hampered by the serious knee injury he picked up at the 2022 World Cup.
Partey in particular was linked with an exit last summer to either Juventus or Saudi Arabia, but the Ghana international opted to stay put, while there were no doubts about Jesus’s future whatsoever.
However, the pair have since slipped down the pecking order, as the injury-plagued Partey has faced increased competition from Declan Rice and the revived Jorginho, while Jesus has lost his spot up top to another new signing in Kai Havertz.
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Arteta ‘to consider exits for Partey, Jesus’
Despite losing his first-choice striker status, Jesus supposedly has no intention of leaving the Emirates this summer, while Arteta has also shot down speculation that the Brazilian could be sold.
Nevertheless, a report from GiveMeSport claims that the Arsenal boss would be happy to let both players depart for the right price, and Saudi Arabia could be a viable destination for the pair.
While Arsenal are reportedly not actively trying to get Partey and Jesus off the books, they are not in a position to turn down big-money offers, and the Saudi Pro League giants are supposedly “considering” approaches.
Partey is seemingly the likeliest to leave at this juncture, as his deal only runs until the end of next season, and the Gunners are expected to tie Jorginho down to fresh terms while also pursuing another defensive midfielder.
However, Jesus is still under contract at Arsenal for another three seasons, and the ex-Manchester City man believes that an uninterrupted pre-season will help him get back to his best.
Which other Arsenal players could be sold this summer?
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While Partey and Jesus’s proposed moves to Saudi Arabia would significantly boost Arsenal’s transfer kitty, the Gunners could instead look to sell a handful of their academy products for pure profit, thereby ensuring that they stay on the right side of Financial Fair Play.
The trio of Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah are thought to be on the chopping block, as all three are only fringe players for Arteta, and second-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is in the same boat.
Nelson has often been left out of Premier League squads this season, as have the experienced duo of Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny, both of whom should also depart when their contracts expire in June.
Arteta must also decide on the futures of a handful of loan players, including left-backs Nuno Tavares (Nottingham Forest) and Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad), both of whom seemingly have no future in North London either.
Wrexham loanee Arthur Okonkwo has supposedly not been offered an extension beyond the end of the campaign either, but Albert Sambi Lokonga might be given a chance to prove himself in pre-season, having impressed while donning the Luton Town kit.