Arsenal are preparing to say goodbye to one of the stars of their Premier League title-winning campaign after accepting a €20million offer.
Mikel Arteta is hoping to significantly bolster his forward line this summer and build from a position of strength after finally ending the club’s 22-year wait to be crowned champions.
Despite finishing comfortably clear of the chasing back, the Gunners were often criticised last season for relying on their defensive strengths, while a significant portion of their goals came from set-pieces.
Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all struggled to score from open play, while Viktor Gyokeres only showed flashes of the potential that saw Arsenal pay Sporting Lisbon £62million for his services 12 months ago.
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Kai Havertz, meanwhile, ended the campaign having usurped Gyokeres as Arteta’s preferred choice up front, but doubts persist over his fitness following a series of debilitating injuries.
Leandro Trossard arguably represented Arsenal’s most consistent forward last season and although he embarked on a lengthy goalless run the former Brighton attacker came up trump in the run-in, scoring a crucial, late matchwinning goal at West Ham.
Despite his importance to the cause Arsenal have, according to The Athletic, sanctioned the 31-year-old’s departure having accepted an offer from Besiktas.
The deal consists of an €18m fee with a further €2m in add-ons, while Trossard is set to earn wages of around round €9m-a-year.
Arsenal handed the Belgium international a pay rise last year but did so without extending his contract which is due to expire in June 2027.
Belgium are still involved at the World Cup following their dramatic comeback win over Sengal in the round of the last 32.
Rudi Garcia’s side are back in action against co-hosts USA on Monday as they look to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Trossard has started all four matches for his country so far and will have to wait until after the tournament to finalise his move.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have already identified a number of potential high-profile replacements for a player who cost them just £27m back in January 2023.
Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has been earmarked as the top target while the north London club are closely monitoring Bradley Barcola’s situation as Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal are exploring a deal to sign winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.
It is understood a deal for the 24-year-old could be possible for around €40million.