Arsenal are set for a big summer with a number of potential exits and exciting arrivals. Several fringe players seem set to be axed, including perhaps some academy players.
Such youth products count as pure profit under Financial Fair Play and would hand the Gunners more breathing space for arrivals. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has already been planning for the future by agreeing a renewal with Jorginho.
The Italian was out of contract in the summer but his short-term deal has answered one transfer question. And it seems the club had competition to ward off first before shaking hands with the 32-year-old.
Part of Arsenal's summer plans involve improving the academy production line, according to The Athletic… It says the club fears falling behind the academies of rivals and may target younger talent who can be nurtured through the system.
The likes of Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson have come through the ranks but are anticipated to be sold this summer amid a lack of game time. Bukayo Saka is perhaps the biggest academy success story and Arsenal have no intention of selling him.
Arteta might be hoping that a boost in the academy will lead to more first-team players who can stick around the long haul, like as has happened at Liverpool and Manchester United in recent decades.
Football.london’s Isaac Johnson says: “If accurate, this shows that Arteta is planning for the future and is thinking about the long-term as well as the here and now. This should come as encouragement for supporters.
“Jobs at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Napoli have been going — albeit Xavi is now staying at the Nou Camp — and Arteta has not been seriously linked with any.
«That is far from a discredit to him but rather the general
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