To address financial problems, Arsenal consider selling Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli

KOMPAS.com - The club’s board, facing a need to balance the accounts, is reportedly weighing extreme measures. Despite impressive performances, Arsenal are said to have to offload several star players in the forthcoming summer transfer window to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. This follows a high-spending summer in 2025, when eight new players were signed at the Emirates Stadium to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad, including big names such as Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, and Martin Zubimendi. Arsenal’s success in leading the Premier League and reaching the knockout stages of the 2025-26 Champions League nonetheless concealed a heavy fiscal burden. This compelled Sporting Director Andrea Berta to identify players who could yield the highest sale profits. According to The Telegraph, internal discussions have pointed to selling captain Martin Odegaard, along with other pivotal players. In addition to Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Ben White have emerged as strong candidates for sale. Martinelli, signed in 2019 for a modest fee, is considered to have a low book value, meaning his sale could realise a significant net profit for the club’s profitability in the Premier League. A similar fate looms for Kai Havertz. The German player is currently in a precarious contract situation. The management is reportedly weighing whether to extend Havertz’s contract or cash in while his market value remains high. While there is a risk of losing one of their own academy products, the potential profits from selling academy players are viewed as instrumental in meeting UEFA cost-control compliance. Amidst this squad reduction, questions are arising about the manager’s future.