Galatasaray Submit €45m Bid for Arsenal Winger Gabriel Martinelli

Galatasaray has launched a €45million ($51.8m) bid for Gabriel Martinelli as Arsenal considers a sale following their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Galatasaray have submitted a formal €45million ($51.8m) bid to sign Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal. The 26-year-old Brazilian international, who recently featured at the summer's World Cup, has made 191 appearances for the Gunners and recorded 41 goals since his £6m ($8m) arrival from Ituano in 2019. Arsenal must now decide whether to sanction the departure of the winger, who currently earns approximately £180,000-a-week ($242,000) and has one year remaining on his contract, though the club retains an option to extend that deal by an additional 12 months.

Key details

The North London club has already been active in the transfer market to overhaul the left side of their attack. Arsenal completed the signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for €40m ($46m) earlier this summer. This acquisition followed the departure of Leandro Trossard, who joined Besiktas in a €20m ($23m) deal last month. While Martinelli has been available for several months, personal terms between the player and Galatasaray have not yet been discussed in detail, leaving his willingness to move to the Turkish side unclear.

Before the bid for Martinelli arrived, Arsenal explored a potential move for Vinícius Júnior, but the Brazilian opted to sign a new contract with Real Madrid. Other targets under consideration for the left-wing role include Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea’s Pedro Neto. These maneuvers come as Mikel Arteta’s side looks to build on a historic campaign that saw them secure their first Premier League trophy in over two decades.

Sources indicate that Arsenal is transitioning toward a trading model this summer, prioritizing outgoings to fund further squad upgrades. Beyond the potential sale of Martinelli, defender Ben White could be allowed to leave the Emirates Stadium. The club is currently monitoring Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa as a potential replacement, having maintained interest in the England international throughout the summer window, though a formal offer has not been submitted.

Latest developments

The broader transfer market sees Arsenal’s rivals also conducting significant business. Atlético Madrid has reportedly agreed to a €40m deal with Tottenham Hotspur for the transfer of Romero. Within the Arsenal camp, Mikel Arteta has publicly welcomed the growing speculation surrounding young prospect Myles Lewis-Skelly. As the August 13 deadline approaches, the Gunners continue to balance their roster following their recent domestic success, weighing the €45m valuation of Martinelli against his five-year history of service at the club.

Financial records show Martinelli’s current market value has fluctuated since his debut against Newcastle United in August 2019. His most prolific season occurred during the 2022/23 campaign when he netted 15 Premier League goals. Should the Turkish giants successfuly lure the South American to the Rams Park, he would join a squad that recently secured the Süper Lig title. Arsenal's recruitment department, led by Edu Gaspar, is evaluating if the €45m figure represents fair value for a player who has contributed 14 assists over the last two seasons.

Internal discussions at London Colney have also touched upon the homegrown quota, which would be impacted by the exit of long-serving squad members. The potential departure of Ben White, who joined for £50m from Brighton in 2021, further emphasizes this shift in strategy. Meanwhile, the pursuit of Ezri Konsa remains contingent on Villa's willingness to negotiate below their rumored £60m asking price. With the transfer window entering its final stages, the decision on Martinelli will dictate the club's remaining budget for incoming reinforcements.