Arsenal have a whole lot of unwanted centre-backs at their disposal right now and the manager might be looking to part ways with Sokratis pretty soon.
According to a report, Serie A side Napoli have shown an interest in signing the 32-year-old Greece international and with the one year left on his current deal, Mikel Arteta might very well cash in on him.
The report claims: “Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos is reportedly a target for Napoli. The two clubs are currently battling it out for Lille’s Gabriel Magalhaes.
“But Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla reports the Serie A side want TWO centre-backs and Sokratis is on their list too.
“Sokratis, who has one year left on his contract, is not in Mikel Arteta’s plans for next season.”
Will Sokratis be allowed to join Napoli?
Sokratis is out of contract at the end of the 2020-21 season and there’s no way the Gunners will offer him a new deal. So either Arsenal cash in on him this summer or let him leave as a free agent next year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBVcG7EDSW9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Now with Napoli interested in signing him, this will be the perfect opportunity for Arteta to clear out some deadwood from the locker room and make space for the new arrivals.
Arsenal will be joined by William Saliba and Lille’s Gabriel Magalhaes is also expected to sign for the Gunners pretty soon. So in such a scenario, selling Sokratis will be the most logical option for the North London club.
During the 2019-20 season, the Greece international featured in only 19 Premier League games for Arsenal, scoring two goals.
