Arsenal consider selling six stars as Gunners try to raise cash for Thomas Partey transfer (Image: GETTY)
Arsenalcould still sell any of Hector Bellerin, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Sead Kolasinac and Mohamed Elneny and Emiliano Martinez to raise funds for a serious attempt at prising Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid, it has been claimed.
The Gunners have made five additions so far this summer in Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares, Willian, Gabriel Magalhaes and Dani Ceballos.
With Cedric and Willian signed for free and Ceballos returning to the Emirates on another 12-month loan from Real Madrid, Arsenal have spent around £40m in total on Mari and Gabriel.
That has left Mikel Arteta with little cash for any other moves, although he wants to bolster his midfield with Thomas Partey and Lyon's Houssem Aouar both liked by the Spaniard.
The two midfielders are of drastically different profiles and it appears Atletico's Partey is his priority target with the Ghanaian the type of midfield enforcer lacking since Gilberto Silva's exit.
However, the 27-year-old will cost £45million if Arsenal want to exercise the release clause in his contract in the Spanish capital and as it stands, the Londoners do not have the cash to do so.
Arsenal consider selling six stars as Gunners try to raise cash for Thomas Partey transfer (Image: GETTY)
They are therefore considering several exits, even for players who Arteta would prefer to keep such as Maitland-Niles and Bellerin, to bring in fresh funds to try and sign Partey before October 5.
The Athletic's David Ornstein, offering a widespread update of the potential outgoings at Arsenal, believes it is unlikely Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers will be sold.
While he says Arsenal are delaying a decision over Rob Holding's future with it believed prior to the Community Shield win over Liverpool, in which the centre-back played the full 90 minutes, he was poised to join Newcastle on loan.
Yet the permanent departures of Paris Saint-Germain-linked Bellerin, Wolves-wanted Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Elneny and Martinez - the subject of bids from Aston Villa - are all very much possible in the coming weeks.
Ornstein told Tifo Football's Ask Ornstein show: "So much going on at Arsenal right now, we know that Maitland-Niles was the subject of a £15million bid from Wolves.
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Arsenal consider selling six stars as Gunners try to raise cash for Thomas Partey transfer (Image: GETTY)
"That was rejected and I don't think that situation has moved on or changed. Some have described it to me as being in the balance, 50/50.
"As for Hector Bellerin, we know of PSG's interest but it's similar, will anyone meet the asking price? If a compromise can be reached, it would probably suit all parties.
"However I have been told that PSG would prefer to do player swaps and that wouldn't suit Arsenal because they want cash so that they can go and pursue their priority targets in other positions such as Thomas Partey.
"In terms of the other names, there seems to have been plenty of interest in Kolasinac and I do think he would be open to a move.
"Mustafi is out injured for a while longer so I don't think that's one we need to be discussing for this window.
"Similarly Calum Chambers is still working his way back to fitness so I don't know if a move would be sensible at this point in time. Let's see how that develops.
"Elneny, that could of course be a transfer either permanent or loan, whether any clubs can meet the asking price Arsenal are putting on him at this moment, I'm not sure.
"I think there's interest in him again from Turkey but I don't know if he would want to go there.
Arsenal consider selling six stars as Gunners try to raise cash for Thomas Partey transfer (Image: TIFO PODCAST)
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"We haven't even mentioned Emi Martinez and the goalkeeping situation, Villa having another bid turned down.
"We still don't know if he's going to be first choice, what's happening with his contract with two years to go and then Rob Holding.
"He was set to join Newcastle on loan but Mikel Arteta is wanting to keep him for now and I think Arsenal are delaying a final decision.
"Maybe he'll have to ask for a move if he wants to go. This is such a fluid market, these squads are still in such a state of flux across the Premier League that there is still a lot to play out in the weeks ahead."
Arsenal meanwhile raise the curtain on the new Premier League season on Saturday when they travel to Craven Cottage to take on newly-promoted Fulham (12.30pm kick-off, live on BT Sport).
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