Arsenal could risk making a big mistake in their pursuit for Renato Sanches by selling players and leaving the squad light elsewhere.
Italian outlet Calciomercato have claimed that the Gunners will try to offload Bernd Leno, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah to fund a transfer for the Portuguese midfielder.
Sanches has been linked with a move to the club and he hinted at their interest in him during an interview with French outlet L'Equipe.
"Maybe Milan and Arsenal are interested but I do not know," he said.
"I spoke with my agent, I know which clubs are calling and which are now, but I can't tell now. But I know I'm ready. If an offer comes in, I'll see what's best for me."
Were Arsenal to go ahead with this transfer then Edu would be making a huge mistake if, as is being reported, that the club need to generate £46million from the sale of the three players.
Sanches is being quoted as costing around the £30m mark which would leave Arsenal in excess of £16m to cover other areas of the pitch.
Bernd Leno's sale would leave the club without a backup goalkeeper, potentially a big oversight going into the final months of the season.
We already saw how important it was to have a strong second goalkeeper during the 2019/2020 season, following the serious knee injury Leno suffered against Brighton.
Emiliano Martinez stepped in and performed excellently, playing a crucial part in Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph.
The £16m excess would most likely be invested in a striker if both Lacazette and Nketiah were to be sold.
Both attackers are out of contract in June, but their departures would leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Folarin Balogun as the only strikers in the squad.
Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Alexander Isak and Dusan Vlahovic, but they would cost way more than the £16m funds Arsenal would be able to spend after the signing of Sanches.
The acquisition of Sanches would certainly be a good signing as Arsenal have lacked a goalscoring midfielder from deep and Sanches would certainly fill that void if given the opportunity.
But sacrificing Nketiah, Lacazette and Leno is unjustifiable and if this is the only way to secure the signature of Sanches, then it is a deal the Gunners should look to avoid.
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