'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With certain Arsenal players exceeding the 25 man squad limit and the ever increasing wage bill needing lowering in order to attract quality players and hand new contracts to star performers, here’s a look at possible Arsenal departures this summer in order for Arsene Wenger to fund his summer spending free.
[All salary figures are according to the Daily Mail]
The talented Mexican forward has struggled to cement a place in Arsenal’s starting lineup and is almost a certainty to leave this summer. After being loaned out to many a club, Vela has finally found a place called “home” on loan at Real Sociedad and has immensely impressed for the Basque club whose president, Jokin Aperribay is soon to visit London to discuss talks over a permanent move worth £3.5 million.
Probability of leaving: 8/10
Probability of other clubs’ interest: 6/10
Sebastien Squillaci.
The once highly reputed French defender has had a nightmare career with Arsenal and is almost certain to leave this summer after only making 6 appearances so far for the Gunners this season. While there were reports that Ligue 2 side, Monaco were interested in him in the January window, it would be quite hard to offload Squillaci seeing as he earns £50,000 per week and many clubs would not want to give in to these wage demands.
Probability of leaving: 10/10
Probability of other clubs’ interest: 3/10
Marouane Chamakh.
After a brilliant start to his Arsenal career, the Moroccan hitman who earns £60,000 per week has been resigned to the bench due to the return of Robin van Persie and his electric form in the past year. As a 28 year old striker, he is in his prime and has considered leaving Arsenal if he wasn’t given enough chances and with reports of Chamakh being linked with Fiorentina as well as a move back to France, it is quite likely that he won’t be an Arsenal player next season.
Probability of leaving: 7/10
Probability of other clubs’ interest: 7/10
Manuel Almunia
The former Arsenal number one has not made a single appearance this season and looks certain to keep it this way – the current 3rd choice Spaniard who earns £60,000 per week is set to become a free agent this summer as his contract is due to expire and will have to look elsewhere for first team football after 8 years of service to the North London club.
Probability of leaving: 10/10
Probability of other clubs’ interest: 1/10
Park Ju Young.
The South Korean striker has had the most mysterious of seasons after joining Arsenal in the summer, having still not made a single start in the Premier League – the signing has been all but a stop gap signing as Park has been sparingly used this season by Arsene Wenger. The former Monaco man, earning £40,000 per week, who like Chamakh, is also in the prime of his career, cannot afford to remain on the bench if he wants to continue representing his country and will probably be one of many departures this summer.
Probability of leaving: 7/10
Probability of other clubs’ interest: 8/10
Denilson.
The Brazilian starlet has been out of favour ever since Jack Wilshere was promoted up the ranks and seems unsettled at his current loan club, Sao Paulo as well. His wage demands of £50,000 per week might be the stumbling block in offloading him but one thing is for sure – Denilson has no Arsenal future.
Probability of leaving: 9/10
Probability of other clubs’ interest: 5/10
Nicklas Bendtner.
The Danish forward was behind Marouane Chamakh and Robin van Persie in the pecking order last season and hence, moved to Sunderland this season, having maintained he’d never return to North London. He has been impressive for Sunderland however this season but it remains to be seen whether the Danish international who earns £50,000 per week, will actually return or not.
Probability of leaving: 7/10
Probability of other clubs’ interest: 8/10
Andrei Arshavin.
After an explosive 2 years into his Arsenal career, Arshavin has deteriorated as a player and gone out of favour with many Arsenal fans, as he is currently shipped out on loan to former club, Zenit St. Petersburg. Whether the £75,000 per week earning Russian captain stays at Arsenal this summer remains to be seen as both he and Arsene Wenger have maintained that the loan was just to give him more playing time at a crucial point before EURO 2012.
Probability of leaving: 6/10
Probability of other clubs’ interest: 9/10
Fringe players in Squillaci, Chamakh, Almunia, Vela, Park, Bendtner, Denilson cost Arsenal a whopping combined total of well over £400,000 a week. If Arsenal want to hand new contracts to the likes of van Persie, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Song and Walcott as well as attract the big names across Europe, they simply have to initiate a summer clear out to free up the wage bill.
