Mathieu Flamini is set to undergo talks with Turkish side Galatasaray as Arsenal eye a new midfielder this summer.
Reports from Turkey suggest that the Galatasaray representatives will meet with Arsenal next week to discuss the transfer of Flamini. The Gunners are likely to not ask for much of a transfer fee, if any at all – with Arsene Wenger keen to get the Frenchman’s reported £60,000 per week salary off the wage bill. If that is the case, negotiations shouldn’t take long too conclude.
Felipe Melo is about to join Cruizero, meaning Galatasarary are on the lookout for an aggressive holding midfielder.
If Flamini did leave Arsenal are sure to go and invest back into a defensive midfielder, with Mikel Arteta injury prone and Francis Coquelin the only other proven option in that role.
Arsenal have a good working relationship with Galatasaray, having sold them Emmanuel Eboue and more recently Lukas Podolski.
Arsenal have already released Ryo Miyaichi and Abou Diaby from the club this summer, as they look to clear out the so called ‘deadwood’ from the club.
With Yaya Sanogo and Carl Jenkinson also leaving the club on loan, the Gunners have almost shifted all of the clubs fringe players this summer. If we could now offload Joel Campbell and Mathieu Flamini to Turkey, we would have well and truly cleared the decks and if we could then make one or two world class signings, we’d be in a very good place.
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If Arsenal do manage to sell Flamini and bring in another midfielder, there are several names still mentioned with a move to the Emirates. The likes of Maxime Gonalons, Javi Martinez, Lars Bender and William Carvalho have been linked. Personally I could see Wenger going back in for former target Bender, he’s capable of playing as a holding midfielder or in a box to box role.