Arsenal to sell SIX players to fund Kudus transfer

Imre Himmelbauer

• 22 Jul 2023 09:23 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are serious about the arrival of Ajax star Mohammed Kudus, with reports that the Emirates side are ready to sell six players in order to fund the transfer.

Mikel Arteta’s side have already spent more than €200 million this summer to sign Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, meaning the manager has spent his transfer budget.

But the Spaniard still wants to improve his squad, and in order to land Kudus, who is under contract with Ajax until 2025, Arteta will have to sell players.

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Ajax want in the region of €40m for the versatile Ghana international attacker, and to raise this sizeable fee, six players find themselves liable to leave Arsenal.

Arsenal are ready to sacrifice Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares, Nicolas Pepe and Albert Sambi Lokonga to allow for Kudus to arrive. All these players were sent out on loan last season, going to Fulham, Marseille, Nice and Crystal Palace respectively. Now all are, predictably, up for sale.

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Arsenal are also not unwilling to transfer Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding. The defenders only played sporadically for the Gunners as they finished second in the Premier League to Manchester City last term, and the arrivals of Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber seems to have reduced their prospect of playing time further.

Competition for Kudus is likely to be significant, with numerous clubs monitoring his progress. Arsenal, however, are the best-positioned major club to land the 22-year-old, despite Manchester United being long-time admirers of the players. The takeover limbo at Old Trafford has prevented manager Erik ten Hag from landing his targets.

Arsenal’s Kudus alternative revealed

If it is not possible to reel in Kudus, Arsenal will reportedly switch to Martin Baturina.

Arsenal have already extensively scouted the 20-year-old player from Dinamo Zagreb and the club management is said to be very impressed with his qualities. Dinamo would listen to offers between €12-17m million euros. Baturina, who is fixed until mid-2028, also enjoys interest from Germany and Italy.