Ahead of the January transfer window, pundit Adrian Clarke has now named two Arsenal players he believed may be sold.
Clarke was speaking on The Athletic’s ‘Handbrake Off’ podcast and discussed some signings Mikel Arteta may need to make.
The pundit thought that a central midfielder and centre forward were needed in January, but that would mean moving players on.
And some Arsenal fans may not be happy to hear either name that Clarke linked to a January departure.
Clarke said: “In my opinion, yeah. I think we need both [central midfielder and centre forward]. I think we will sell some players.”
Amy Lawrence replied: “Who can we sell?”
Clarke: “[Aaron] Ramsdale and [Emile] Smith Rowe. There’s no one else you’d really want to sell is there?
“You wouldn’t really want to sell either of those in an ideal world but you do need to raise the funds.”
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Perhaps the most obvious candidates for a departure are Thomas Partey and Cedric Soares.
However, the duo Clarke mentioned are likely to recoup a bigger fee.
Adrian Clarke believes Arsenal may need sell two beloved stars in January
Whilst Arsenal fans may not enjoy the suggestion to sell either Aaron Ramsdale or Emile Smith Rowe, Clarke has raised valid ideas.
Putting aside emotion, if a side has two players that could amass around £100m in fees, that aren’t currently being utilised, they would sell them, right?
However, it’s not that easy.
Both Arsenal fans and those at the club will have grown incredibly close to the duo, who have both looked to have world-class potential at times.
Two players who have been victims of circumstance, rather than any poor performances of their own.
And even if there is logic behind Clarke’s suggestion, it would prove incredibly difficult for Arsenal fans to watch either leave in January.
Not only for their quality and connection to the club, but also because they would inevitably be strengthening a rival.
Perhaps Arsenal’s need for new signings should wait until the summer, when the club can fully assess the situation.
That being said, Arsenal are now being linked with signing a record-breaking player in the Serie A.