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Mikel Arteta told he needs to sell ‘special’ Arsenal player if £30m bid comes in
Gabriel Agbonlahor believes that Arsenal should be willing to sell one player if they receive a bid of £30 million this summer – even if it is someone the fans would rather keep at the Emirates.
Arsenal fans are waiting for their summer business to really kick into gear. Arsenal are working on a move for Riccardo Calafiori, while supporters will be hoping that the Italian is not the only marquee target for this window.
But of course, something that is going to be crucial for Edu to get right this summer is moving players on for the right prices; the kind of fees which help ensure Mikel Arteta is working with a better squad than the one which came so close to winning the Premier League title last season.
Gabriel Agbonlahor thinks Arsenal should sell player if they receive £30 million bid
And one of the players who has been heavily linked with a move away is Emile Smith Rowe. Arsenal would love to keep Smith Rowe, but he has not played a great deal over the last couple of years – and he is attracting plenty of interest.
Crystal Palace believe Smith Rowe would be interested in joining them, and Fulham have made Smith Rowe one of their key targets.
Speaking on (broadcast on 23/7; 16:09), Gabriel Agbonlahor suggested that it may be in Arsenal’s best interest to cash in on the England international.
“Someone like Smith Rowe, you are not going to play him, he never plays, he never gets used, I know it’s hard for Arsenal fans, but you can’t afford with the rules now, Financial Fair Play, you have got to make sacrifices,” he said.
“Aston Villa did that with Douglas Luiz, Arsenal now have to say, you know what? He is one of our own, Smith Rowe, but you know what? Let’s go and get £30 million for him if we can.”
Gunners may hardly face a tougher decision this summer
It is likely to be one of the toughest decisions Arsenal make this summer, as Smith Rowe is someone who has previously proven himself in the Premier League. He is a ‘‘ talent, and the Gunners would definitely benefit from having him in and around the squad once again this season.
But selling academy graduates has rarely been more beneficial for clubs, and Arsenal will be wary of preventing the attacking midfielder from developing further. Smith Rowe turns 24 at the end of the week.
Some may take real exception with the idea of losing him for £30 million, but Arsenal are definitely at the point where they need to make some ruthless decisions to get themselves across the line. Selling Smith Rowe may be one of the next ones.