Arsenal could be open to selling a major star to bolster squad with top signings | OneFootball

Arsenal have wondered for a few years if they would have to sell an established player to help fund purchases, according to the Times.

Generating transfer funds last summer appeared to depend on player sales at the club, and they may need to sell to buy to balance the books.

Arsenal are 11 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, and manager Mikel Arteta will be desperate to bolster his options this summer regardless of how this season ends.

The Gunners will not be able to recoup as much as hoped from fringe players and could be open to selling one of their major stars to bolster the squad with top signings.

Liverpool sold Philippe Coutinho for up to £146 million in January 2018 and used the funds to bring in Virgil van Dijk for £75m and Alisson for £64.6m.

A similar move could arm Arsenal with the remaining pieces of the puzzle.

Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba could be some of the options the Gunners could consider selling, especially with the latter already being linked with Real Madrid.

They reportedly want at least £100m from suitors to entertain any idea of selling their star centre-back.

He dreams of joining Madrid amid claims that his representatives have held talks with the La Liga club as they look to sign him during the next summer transfer window.

Losing such an influential and important player is the last thing Arsenal want, but it cannot be completely ruled out if he indicates a desire to move on.

The Gunners did not sign players in January, which should help free up funds for summer signings.

However, a big sale will also help further bolster their coffers and is a gamble they could be willing to take.