Arsenal will need to sell this key player if they fail to qualify for the Champions League

Arsenal will have to sell off their young prodigy Bukayo Saka if they fail to secure Champions League qualification for the 2021-22 season, as per the latest reports in England.

The Mail cites The Times saying: “Mikel Arteta will reportedly have to consider selling Bukayo Saka in order to raise funds for Arsenal to spend in the summer, with a permanent deal for Martin Odegaard a top priority. 

“Odegaard, who is thought to be valued at £35million by Real Madrid, has been another of the team’s shining lights this season during a campaign which has seen the north Londoners become mired in mid-table after an eight-placed finish last season and fail to defend the FA Cup after crashing out to Southampton in the fourth round.

“However, with Covid causing financial problems throughout world football and Arsenal’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League looking shaky at best, Arteta may need to let his prize asset go to strengthen the squad ahead of next season, according to The Times.”

Owing to the loss against Liverpool, Arsenal remain ninth on the Premier League table and if Villa manage to win their games in hand then the Gunners will slide further down.

Naturally, finishing in the top-four is now a distant dream so the only way for Arsenal to get back into the Champions League is to win the Europa League this time around. But if they fail to even do that then selling players like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe will become a very realistic possibility.

Bukayo Saka is primarily a right winger but can also play as a full-back as well as a midfielder. And this versatility will make him a really high-valued transfer target should Arsenal decide to sell him in the summer.

Mikel Arteta will definitely not want to part ways with the 19-year-old but if he’s asked to generate most of his transfer funds then the manager will have to cash in on Saka.

Nicolas Pepe plays in the same position as Saka but the Ivorian will not fetch a very handsome transfer amount which is why the club’s management seem to have shortlisted Bukayo Saka.

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