Arsenal Set £100m Price Tag for Academy Duo as Summer Shake-Up Looms
Arsenal are prepared to listen to offers for a number of first-team players this summer, with the club setting a combined asking price of £100 million for academy graduates Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, according to a BBC Sport report. The club is reportedly looking to raise significant funds for a major squad overhaul, with several other established first-team players also potentially available for transfer.
Lewis-Skelly, 19, has found first-team opportunities limited this season, making just one Premier League start. The 19-year-old left-back, who made a breakthrough last season, has reportedly attracted interest from Manchester United, who are said to be monitoring the defender. The report suggests manager Mikel Arteta favours more physical options in the position, with Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapié currently ahead in the pecking order.
Nwaneri, also 19, is currently on loan at Marseille after a breakthrough season last year. Despite his loan move, the England Under-21 international is also believed to be among the players Arsenal are willing to sell. The BBC Sport report indicates the club hopes to recoup a combined £100 million for the two academy products, a figure that would represent pure profit for the club under Profit and Sustainability Rules.
In addition to the young duo, the report suggests that more established first-team players could be moved on. Forwards Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are named as potential departures, as is defender Ben White, despite the England international being a regular starter in recent weeks. The potential sale of such established players would generate significant funds for a major squad overhaul.
The primary target for a major summer signing is reported to be Atlético Madrid and Argentina forward Julián Álvarez. The 24-year-old World Cup winner is understood to be a key target, with a potential fee in the region of €125 million (£108.2m) being discussed. Atlético are reportedly already scouting for replacements, anticipating his departure.
Further potential targets identified in the report include Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon, Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, and Sandro Tonali of Newcastle, who is currently on loan from AC Milan. The potential scale of the summer business suggests a significant squad refresh is planned at the Emirates, with a focus on generating funds through sales of both academy talent and established stars to finance a major push for top-level talent.
