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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Mikel Arteta 'ready' to axe Arsenal trio including Granit Xhaka to fund summer transfer plan

Arsenal are ready to listen to offers for Granit Xhaka, Kieran Tierney and Folarin Balogun this summer.

Mikel Arteta is set to strengthen his squad at the end of the season as the Gunners prepare for Champions League football for the first time in five years. Arsenal have guaranteed themselves a place in Europe's top club competition next term, having already accumulated 75 points from their 33 matches.

Although the Gunners could be set to miss out on the Premier League title, they have made a searing amount of progress compared to this time last year. Arteta is hopeful Arsenal can continue to push and build on an improved campaign ahead of their return to the Champions League.

According to the Daily Mail, the Gunners are expected to oversee a small rebuild in the summer with a number of first-team stars set to be axed. Xhaka could be among those to leave with Arsenal expected to listen to offers for the Switzerland midfielder despite his starring role this term.

Xhaka, 30, has been a mainstay in the Arsenal side, playing 32 Premier League matches, but with his value high, Arsenal may cash in to fund other transfers. West Ham's Declan Rice has emerged as the Gunners' priority target, with Chelsea's Mason Mount also on their agenda as midfield options.

Meanwhile, Tierney has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium. Reports emerged that Newcastle were keen to sign the Scotland international in the summer, having dropped to second-choice behind Oleksandr Zinchenko for the majority of the Premier League campaign.

Granit Xhaka and Kieran Tierney are amongst those that could leave Arsenal this summer (Getty Images)

Balogun, who has spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims, is another who could be sold despite scoring an impressive 19 goals in 32 matches this term. A number of Premier League sides have been tipped to sign the England youth international, while AC Milan and Marseille are also potential destinations.

It was reported earlier this month that the Gunners have set a £26million asking price for Balogun ahead of a potential move away from the club. With Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus ahead of Balogun in the pecking order, game time may be limited for the Reims man next season.

As for Reiss Nelson, his contract will run out at the end of the season and the winger has earned many admirers, including the likes of Brighton and Aston Villa. It has already been confirmed that Ainsley Maitland-Niles will depart the Gunners when his contract expires in the summer, too, having spent this term on loan at Southampton.

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