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Arsenal make progress on outgoings after £208m transfer splurge with three exits close
EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal winger Marquinhos looks set to join Olympiacos on a season-long loan deal with two other departures also close
Arsenal are beginning to turn the screw in their quest to clear the decks at the Emirates Stadium and a number of first-team departures are now edging closer following a £208million transfer splurge. Express Sport understands the 20-year-old Brazilian looks set to join Olympiacos on loan following his spell with Championship side Norwich City last season.
The tricky attacker, signed for £3m from Sao Paulo in the summer of 2022, netted just once in 11 league outings at Carrow Road during the second half of last season.
Sources suggest a deal with Olympiacos is now on the verge of completion as Marquinhos continues his period of adaptation in Europe after leaving his homeland of South America.
Elsewhere, Auston Trusty is set to complete his £5m switch to Premier League side Sheffield United in the coming days.
The 24-year-old flourished on loan in the Championship with Birmingham City last season and has spent pre-season with the Gunners in the USA.
Trusty was a staple at St Andrews last season, scoring four times in 44 Championship outings in the Midlands.
Arsenal are understood to view the deal as superb business given Trusty was valued at just $1.5m in January 2022 when he joined the club from Stan Kroenke’s Colorado Rapids.
He has failed to make a first-team appearance during his 18-month spell with the Gunners but could now prove to be a hit in the Premier League with Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades following their return to the top-flight
Besiktas are also exploring the possibility of signing £72m flop Nicolas Pepe, who has also attracted interest from Saudi Arabia.
The Ivorian winger is now in the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium and spent last season on loan at Nice.
Pepe didn’t travel with the Arsenal squad for their pre-season tour of the United States due to injury.
Mikel Arteta explained talks over his future were due to commence in the coming weeks. He said: “At the moment he’s recovering from an injury, that’s why he’s not here.
“He had a spell on loan and we wanted to get more from that loan spell. We’ll have to see when he comes back, have a chat with him, understand what he plans are and make a decision.”
Folarin Balogun could leave Arsenal before the transfer deadline (Image: Getty)
Arsenal are still striving to receive a fee for 28-year-old Pepe as there is now additional focus on maximising funds raised through player sales due to the club’s excessive spending in the market.
That said, there is still a possibility that Pepe’s contract is terminated by mutual consent which would enable the forward to sign for another club on a free transfer.
Arteta and Edu may also have to slash Folarin Balogun’s price tag in order to push through the USMNT striker’s departure this summer although he could yet remain in north London.
The club are open to offers for the 22-year-old frontman who rattled in 21 goals in Ligue 1 last season while on loan with Stade de Reims. Balogun does not want to pursue another loan move.
Yet so far, no suitor is prepared to pay the £45m-£50m valuation currently being quoted. Inter Milan are firm admirers of Balogun but are now pressing to wrap up the signing of West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca.
The Hammers could potentially move for Balogun later in the transfer window should they sanction the sale of Scamacca as Inter ready an improved offer worth £25m for the Italian.
