7 Arsenal players left on transfer scrap heap as Arteta can’t shift deadwood

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is still looking to revamp his squad as time ticks away in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners boss has moved to bring in £50m defender Ben White to bolster his backline, whilst deals have also been agreed for young starlets Nico Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Arteta is still known to be keen on adding an attacking midfielder and a goalkeeper at the very least in the final two-and-a-half weeks of the window.

But Arsenal need to raise money through player sales to fund their squad rebuild, something that they have so far struggled to do – although Joe Willock's imminent £25m move to Newcastle will be a boost to their budget.

Now The Times report that seven players up for sale have barely attracted any interest, leaving Arteta with a job on his hands.

Here, Daily Star Sport looks at those who the Gunners have struggled to offload this summer.

1. Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Utility man Ainsley Maitland-Niles starred during a six-month loan spell at West Bromwich Albion last year, although he couldn't help them avoid relegation.

Despite his determination to muscle in on a first team spot, Maitland-Niles is a fringe player that the Gunners have been open to offers for all summer.

The 23-year-old England star has been linked with Premier League rivals Leicester City, Burnley and Southampton.

Maitland-Niles is one of the more valuable stars Arsenal are prepared to offload this summer, resulting in a chunkier price tag of a reported £20m – which has scared off other suitors such as Crystal Palace.

2. Mohamed Elneny

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Mohamed Elneny has enjoyed something of a renaissance under Mikel Arteta over the past 18 months, but reportedly the Egyptian midfielder is still seen as expendable by the Gunners hierarchy.

Elneny has struggled to make an impact in North London since his £5m move back in 2016, although he did feature prominently at the back end of last season.

There were reports back in March that Arsenal were set to open contract talks with Elneny, potentially to protect his value, but to date no such agreement has been signed off.

With just 12 months remaining on his current terms, the Gunners would rather sell the midfield ace than see him depart for nothing next summer.

3. Sead Kolasinac

Sead Kolasinac was has been dislodged by the impressive Kieran Tierney since his arrival at the Emirates.

The capture of young left-back Nico Tavares earlier this summer has nudged Kolasinac even further down the pecking order, with his Arsenal career all but over.

The Bosnian international was farmed out on loan to Schalke in Germany last term and is in the final 12 months of his Arsenal deal, so an exit seems inevitable – even if no suitors have come forward for his services yet.

4. Lucas Torreira

Lucas Torreira is another Arsenal outcast who spent last season away from the Emirates.

The Uruguayan ace was shipped out on loan to Atletico Madrid – who have been linked with a permanent deal for the 25-year-old this summer.

That proposal would be welcomed by Arsenal and boss Mikel Arteta after Torreira's disappointing three-year stay in North London following a £26m switch from Sampdoria back in 2018.

But unfortunately, no official bids have materialised for the midfield ace, who has also been linked with Serie A outfit Lazio.

5. Reiss Nelson

Reiss Nelson has been continuously linked with a move away from the Emirates this summer.

The versatile midfielder made just nine appearances for the Gunners last season and is keen on more first team football this year.

Nelson impressed during a spell on loan at Hoffenheim back in the 2018/19 Bundesliga season, but his career has stalled since his return to North London.

CBS Sports reported last month that Premier League trio Brentford, Brighton and Crystal Palace were all circling around the England U21 star, who is in the final year of his current deal.

6. Eddie Nketiah

Eddie Nketiah has struggled to make an impact since stepping up to Mikel Arteta's first team squad.

The striker managed just two Premier League goals last term, and only mustered a measly 206 minutes in an Arsenal shirt between January and May last term as his underwhelming season slumped to an end.

The Athletic reported that Nketiah was being lined up for a new deal this summer, but is still likely to be sold as Arteta attempts to raise funds to renovate his squad.

Despite links to West Ham, no concrete interest has materialised in the 22-year-old.

7. Willian

Willian's switch to the Gunners on a free transfer has been nothing short of a disaster.

The Brazilian winger penned a bumper three-year deal last summer but has struggled to make an impact in North London.

Speaking to BT Sport last year, Willian opened up on what he called "one of the most difficult" spells in his career.

"Yes, it's been very difficult for me this season, one of the most difficult of my career," he said. "I always want to do something special for the team but this is life.

"The new philosophy of work, I think it's taken time to adapt. It wasn't because I don't want to play or be good for Arsenal."

Despite starring for Chelsea in the Premier League previously, no one has stepped forward to prise the Brazilian away from the Gunners.

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