Arsenal are reportedly hoping to trim their hefty wage bill by offloading some star names including Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the summer.
Arsenal are expected to have a busy summer transfer window, with Unai Emery eyeing many players for different positions for next season. Now a report by Daily Mail suggests that Emery will also look to offload some of his key stars, starting with Henrikh Mkhitaryan with the hopes of trimming their wage bill.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan joined Arsenal in January 2018 from Manchester United as part of a swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez, with the Chilean going the other way. The Armenian is reportedly on £200,000-a-week wages at the Emirates, and in the close season, the Gunners want to sell him to invest some of the money onto other targets.
Mkhitaryan has a decent record of 6 goals and provided four assists in his 18 Premier League appearances this season, and while it is a valuable contribution, his wages are the problem for Arsenal heading into next season.
During Arsene Wenger’s last season, Arsenal made some big-name signings including Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan, while also extending Mesut Ozil’s contract. The three new signings are on similar wages, while Ozil is on £350,000 per week, all of which only inflates the wage bill.
As a result, Arsenal have had to work with a restricted budget, with the club only spending around £70 million last summer, while they had no money to spend in January. Recent reports have suggested that the North Londoners will have to endure another summer with limited money, with only £45 million available to spend.
So, raising more money would only be possible if they successfully sell some of their stars. That is one of the primary reasons Arsenal are considering to sell Mkhitaryan in the summer. With Aaron Ramsey leaving and Danny Welbeck out of contract at the end of the season, Arsenal are already on the mend to trim their wage budget, but replacing these key stars is also on the agenda.
The Gunners have been linked with a move for Nicolo Barella, but the Italian international will not come cheap. But, the most significant factor that would determine an improved budget and ensure Mkhitaryan staying put is qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
A place in Europe’s elite club competition will help the club spend more money while keeping hold of their key stars. Arsenal currently sit fourth on the Premier League table with eight games to go, and Emery’s men are well on course to finish in the top four come the end of the season.
All things considered, with Aaron Ramsey already leaving, Henrikh Mkhitaryan could prove to be significant considering the creativity he bring to the plate. But, if Arsenal are looking to trim their current wage bill and bring in younger talents in his place, then such a move could make sense.
