Bayern Munich are being linked with a £38.9million move for Gabriel Martinelli, a bid that would be enough to tempt Arsenal and could set a new club record for an outgoing transfer. The 24-year-old Brazilian, who made 11 Premier League starts last term, is under contract for another year with an option for a further year.
The timing matters because Arsenal are also looking to strengthen at left wing this summer, and they may be open to a sale if the numbers are right. A deal at £38.9million would top the £35m Liverpool paid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017, making Martinelli the biggest departure in Arsenal’s history by fee.
That is why Bayern’s interest has landed now. Reports in Germany say the Bundesliga champions are in the market for a winger, but not necessarily a marquee name. They are said to want a backup option and a player to develop, which may not be the pitch that persuades Martinelli to leave a club where he has already been part of Mikel Arteta’s plans and where he was often used from the bench last season.
Martinelli was on Bayern’s shortlist when Thomas Tuchel was still in charge, and that earlier interest gives this summer’s talk a little more weight. Arsenal, meanwhile, are not just thinking about who might leave. They are also looking at young talent, with Jeremy Monga among the names under consideration after Leicester City’s relegation to League One. A move for the teenager would likely cost between £10m and £15m.
Arteta has already signalled that Arsenal are prepared to make hard calls if they want to move up another level, and this is exactly the kind of decision that fits that warning. Martinelli has given Arsenal pace and directness, but with a year left on his deal and an extension option in the club’s pocket, this summer may be the moment the valuation is tested. The unanswered question is whether Bayern actually put the £38.9million bid on the table, or whether Arsenal end up keeping a player they may yet have to price carefully.
