Mikel Arteta and Edu are looking to offload several players before the start of the new season but some will be harder to shift than others...

As is often the way during the transfer window, all the talk at Arsenal right now is about possible incomings.

But getting players out of the door is just as important when it comes to building a settled and happy squad, which is why the club are working hard behind the scenes to move several players on.

Below, GOAL takes a look at some members of Mikel Arteta’s senior side who could leave over the coming weeks...

Bernd Leno

With Matt Turner’s move from New England Revolution now having been made official, Bernd Leno’s exit feels inevitable.

When he left for his summer break at the end of last season, there was an understanding in place between the player and the club that he would be able to move on.

All parties are open to making a deal happen and there are clubs interested in taking the German international, who still has aspirations of making his nation's World Cup squad.

Fulham are believed to have already held talks over a possible move, while there is also interest from some Bundesliga sides.

Nothing has been agreed yet, but it’s highly likely the 30-year-old will have a new club by the time the transfer window comes to a close.

Arthur Okonkwo

Another goalkeeper who looks set to be on the move this summer. Unlike Leno, however, Okonkwo will only be leaving on loan.

The highly-rated 20-year-old has spent the past year in the senior squad and has gained valuable experience doing so.

But he and Arsenal both believe the time is right to go out and get some regular senior first-team football, so a move away from North London is almost a certainty this summer.

Interested clubs are already being sounded out, with Arsenal and Okonkwo’s representative planning to make a final decision on the shot-stopper's next step soon.



Hector Bellerin

After enjoying a successful loan spell at Real Betis last season, Hector Bellerin is keen to return to his hometown club on a permanent basis.

Discussions have been taking place throughout the summer to try to find a solution that suits all parties, with Bellerin’s high wages proving problematic as it stands.

The right-back took a major pay cut to spend last season with Betis and it remains to be seen if he is willing to do that for the long-term.

For the moment, Bellerin is back at Arsenal and has started pre-season training at London Colney.

He has just one year left on his contract, however, and attempts to secure him a move back to Spain this summer continue.

Nuno Tavares

There is a possibility that Tavares will be able to leave on loan this summer, but his immediate future is all linked to possible incomings.

If Arsenal manage to bring in cover for the left side of defence, then Tavares could potentially move on just a year after he arrived in North London from Benfica.

Marseille are believed to be interested in a loan, while Atlanta are also keeping tabs on Tavares situation.

But if Arsenal fail to bring any in who can provide cover for Kieran Tierney, such as Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez, then the likelihood is that Tavares will remain.




Nicolas Pepe

Arsenal’s club-record signing presents what is arguably the biggest problem for technical director Edu this summer.

With just two years left on his deal, the expectation is that Pepe will leave the summer.

The winger is very much on the periphery of things under Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s pursuit of Raphinha shows that Pepe simply isn’t in the Spaniard’s plans.

Arsenal’s issue, though, is finding a buyer.

It’s been just three years since they spent £72 million ($87m) to sign Pepe from Lillie and he has two years remaining on his contract, which is believed to be around £150,000 ($180,000) a week.

Finding a club who would be willing to get close to those wages, while also agreeing to pay Arsenal any sort of significant transfer fee will be difficult.


It is something Arsenal are working on and Pepe switched agents ahead of the summer with the sole purpose of trying to find him a new club.

All parties want to find a resolution, but it will be far from easy. 

As it stands, a loan deal with some sort of option to buy could be the most likely scenario.

Alex Runarsson

The Icelandic goalkeeper has endured a miserable time since his move to Arsenal and is clearly not at the required level to make it at the Emirates.

He spent last season on loan with OH Leuven in Belgium and it would be no surprise to see him loaned out again.

Arsenal, however, would prefer to find a permanent taker for the 27-year-old.


Pablo Mari

Mari is back at Arsenal and training as usual ahead of the new season.

The Spanish centre-back enjoyed a good loan spell with Udinese last season and there is a chance that move could be made permanent.

Udinese have publicly stated, however, that the numbers involved in the deal make it financially difficult for them to make it happen.

So, this could be a potential transfer that rumbles on throughout the window.

Mari is well-respected at Arsenal and Arteta views him as an exceptional professional.

But Arsenal’s current centre-back options make any sort of game time unlikely for Mari during the coming campaigns, so they need to find him a new club sooner rather than later.



Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Arsenal were hoping that Maitland-Niles would sign for Roma this summer.

They sent him on loan to the Italian side in January and although the deal did not include an option to buy, Roma had stated their desire to take the England international on a permanent basis should the loan go well.

Unfortunately, Maitland-Niles struggled to make much of an impact under Jose Mourinho, starting just 10 games in all competitions, with just five of those coming in Serie A.

So, Roma turned their attention elsewhere this summer, leaving Arsenal trying to find a new taker for the 24-year-old.

Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest are believed to be showing an interest and Arsenal will not stand in Maitland-Niles way if a reasonable offer arrives.

Folarin Balogun

The young striker is expected to go out on loan once again.

Balogun spent the second half of last season on loan at Middlesbrough and although he found the net just three times, he did impress during his first proper taste of regular senior football.

A full season out on loan now feels like the natural next step in his development, with several clubs in the Championship believed to be keen on taking him.


Reiss Nelson

Nelson almost feels like the forgotten man at Arsenal.

After breaking through amid such high hopes a few years ago, the winger has been unable to make the expected impact in the first team.

He spent last season on loan in Netherlands with Feyenoord and enjoyed a strong end to the campaign, playing a key part in the Dutch club’s run to the UEFA Conference League final.

Feyenoord are understood to be keen on taking Nelson back to the club, but Arsenal would now prefer to sell the young attacker, who has just one year left on his contract in north London.


Lucas Torreira

Torreira has already publicly stated there is "no chance" of him playing for Arsenal next season.

The Gunners were hoping that the midfielder would join Fiorentina after such a successful loan spell with the Serie A side last season.

But they opted not to take up their option of signing the Uruguayan for €15m (£12.9m), much to the frustration of Arsenal and the player.

Arsenal are now looking to find a new club for Torreira in Italy or Spain.

The 26-year-old, who has 12 months remaining on his contract, has always stated he would like to join Boca Juniors in Argentina, but it's highly unlikely they could meet Arsenal's demands.