Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, reportedly “exiled” seven players from first team practices.
Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber were all acquired by the Arsenal this summer for a total of more than £200 million. On loan from Brentford with a purchase option, they also acquired goalkeeper David Raya.
However, Arteta has so far had more difficulty with outgoings. Goalkeeper Matt Turner and Auston Trusty have also left the team on long-term contracts. Granit Xhaka left the club early to join Bayer Leverkusen.
Forward Folarin Balogun is one of many others who have been connected to departures. The 21-year-old, who Arsenal reportedly values at £40 million, is reportedly wanted by Chelsea, Fulham, and Monaco, among other teams.
The American international missed Arsenal’s first two games of the season due to injury, but earlier this week he shared a photo on Instagram that showed him back in training at London Colney.
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He is reportedly one of seven players who are working out separately from the rest of the team while he regains his full fitness, though.
Arteta “banishes seven players from Arsenal training.”.
According to Football Daily’s Connor Humm, on Thursday, Balogun, Kieran Tierney, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, and Rob Holding all worked out separately from the rest of the Arsenal team.
Additionally, it is said that neither Cedric Soares nor Nicolas Pepe, who both spent the second half of the previous season on loan, were reportedly working out with either the main team or a different group.
The rest of the Arsenal team did NOT train today with Kieran Tierney, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Folarin Balogun, and Rob Holding.
Everyone engaged in separate training.
Image courtesy of Twitter, 9WkiacM2UG.
— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor), August 24, 2023.
However, there hasn’t been a lack of interest in some of those players.
As they search for a replacement for Moises Caicedo, who signed with Chelsea for £115 million earlier in August, talkSPORT reports that Brighton, who is currently atop the Premier League, is interested in signing Sambi Lokonga.
While Pepe, who was Arsenal’s club-record signing before Rice arrived, has been linked to a move to a Saudi Pro League club, Tavares has been linked to a move to Nottingham Forest, according to RMC Sport.
In addition to looking for a potential replacement for the injured Timber, Arsenal has another week to complete any transfer business before the window closes.
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