Arsenal are gearing up to accept a jaw‑dropping £70 million‑plus offer for attacker Gabriel Martinelli, with manager Mikel Arteta reportedly backing the sale—according to ex‑Manchester United scout Mick Brown speaking to Football Insider.
£70m+ Bid Could See Martinelli Exit After Arteta’s Green Light
At 24, Martinelli remains a key figure, but Arteta believes his position can be reinforced, especially with superior wide options in the pipeline.
Brown explains: “Some Saudi clubs have been looking at him, and if they come in with a bid that Arsenal deem acceptable, I don’t think they’ll stand in his way… Arteta feels he can improve in that position.”
Interest in the Brazilian winger has surged, notably from Al-Nassr, who reportedly prepared a staggering £73 million bid—a record-breaking fee that trumps Arsenal’s previous high of £35 million for Oxlade‑Chamberlain.
However, Fabrizio Romano has since downplayed such speculation, stating talks with Al-Nassr are “wide off the mark” and not ongoing.
Still, Brown notes the club has contingency plans: any funds from Martinelli’s sale would help bankroll ambitious targets like Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, while keeping an eye on stars such as Anthony Gordon, Rodrygo, and Rafael Leao.
The scouting team has scouted replacements, ready to step up if the Brazilian exits.
From Arsenal’s standpoint, the move would balance ambition and pragmatism: banking a record fee, easing financial pressures under FFP rules, and reinvesting in a squad ready to challenge on all fronts.
That said, Arsenal fans may breathe easier following Romano’s dismissals, which hint at the Brazilian remaining at the Emirates—at least for now.
Still, the £70m-plus threshold remains clear: if the bid lands and Arteta sanctions it, Martinelli will likely be spearheading someone else’s attack by late August.
