Arsenal supporters have been reacting to the news that Konstantinos Mavropanos is close to securing a permanent move away from the club.
A source has told football.london that the 23-year-old defender is set to move to Stuttgart for £7million on a permanent deal after spending the 2020/21 campaign on loan with the Bundesliga outfit.
Mavropanos was signed by the Gunners in 2018 under Arsene Wenger from Greek club PAS Giannina, but has made just seven league appearances in his three-and-a-half-years in north London.
However, the Greek centre-back was never really handed a chance under Unai Emery or Mikel Arteta and he now looks set to be let go by the latter.
Mavropanos played 22 times for Stuttgart in all competitions throughout last season, helping the side secure a ninth-placed finish in the German top-flight.
The Greece international has just two years remaining on his deal at the Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal set to cash in on their out-of-favour centre-back.
However, some Gunners fans are unhappy with the club's decision - and even more so, with the £7m price he is set to be sold for.
Mavropanos did hint at potentially returning to Stuttgart when asked about it earlier this year, stating he feels "comfortable" in Germany.
He said: “My deal with Stuttgart ends in the summer and then I will be returning to Arsenal, but I can imagine spending another year here because I feel comfortable and the Bundesliga is very challenging.”
Arteta also spoke about Mavropanos during his temporary spell with Stuttgart, as well as fellow defender William Saliba - who was out on loan at Nice.
“We’re having meetings very often to assess what they’re doing and obviously we’re getting all the information and watching their games because I want to keep a very close eye on what they’re doing," the Arsenal boss said on Mavropanos and Saliba.
“We’re having meetings very often to assess what they’re doing and obviously we’re getting all the information and watching their games because I want to keep a very close eye on what they’re doing.”
The Gunners are reportedly chasing a centre-back this summer with David Luiz leaving the club upon the expiry of his deal later this month.
As it stands, Arteta has Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Saliba, Pablo Mari and Gabriel Magalhaes as his options in the centre of defence.
football.london understands the Arsenal squad is set for a huge overhaul in the coming months after the disappointing 2020/21 campaign.
