Arsenal decide to sell long-serving attacker in 2026 as Fenerbahce alerted to ‘costly’ transfer
Arsenal have reportedly decided to sell one of their wingers in 2026, and Fenerbahce will be offered the chance to take him off Mikel Arteta’s hands.
The Spaniard – whose team will face Everton in The Premier League clash on Saturday evening – is blessed with an embarrassment of riches at the moment, thanks to the summer signings of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.
The England internationals are competing with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Max Dowman for minutes on the flanks, while Gabriel Jesus is another option after recovering from an ACL injury.
However, while Saka landed the right-wing spot, none of Martinelli, Trossard or Eze made the left-wing position their own during their time at the Emirates, leading to speculation that Arsenal could be targeting a new option in 2026.
Trossard has cut the mustard in recent weeks, but the Belgium international is in his thirties and could be on his way out next year, while Martinelli’s long-term future has also been the subject of debate.
Will Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli be offered to Fenerbahce?
© Imago
According to Turkish media FootballArenaArsenal have now put Martinelli up for sale, with the 24-year-old’s services set to be offered to Turkish giants Fenerbahce next year.
Arsenal bought Martinelli for just £6million from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019, and the striker’s stock has risen exponentially since, thanks to his 87 goals in 243 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions.
However, the South American has struggled for consistency since scoring 15 Premier League goals in 2022-23 and has scored just once in 12 top-flight games this season, while also netting five in five in the Champions League.
Martinelli will enter the final 18 months of his contract with Arsenal in January, although the Gunners could activate a one-year extension until 2028 to protect his value and will likely trigger the option regardless of where they think his future lies.
A proposed move to Fenerbahce would see Martinelli join forces with Ederson, Marco Asensio and Milan Skriniar, although the report adds that it would be an “expensive” move, so it is unclear whether the Turkish club will be receptive to advances from Arsenal or their agents.
Why Arsenal should consider selling Gabriel Martinelli in 2026
© Imago
It seems scarcely believable that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains Arsenal’s most expensive sale of all time – the Gunners have never recouped a higher fee than the £35million they received from Liverpool for the Englishman in 2017.
However, Martinelli – although he has been hit or miss over the last couple of years – is expected to far exceed that fee, and such a sale would also represent a major win for Arsenal financially.
Buying players for small fees and selling them for bigger ones has not been Arsenal’s mantra under Arteta, but the club could make a serious profit on Martinelli, who has stagnated since that terrific 2022-23 campaign.
Arsenal must balance their books next year after a major summer spend of £250m, and it appears a big sale could – or should – be on the cards; Martinelli fits that bill perfectly.
The Gunners should not consider parting ways with the winger in January, but if suitable offers are tabled this summer – from Fenerbahce or elsewhere – Arsenal would be foolish not to consider them.