ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta’s first ever signing is set to be sold in the summer transfer window, reports suggest.
The Gunners’ sporting director Edu is already in the process of trimming the first-team squad and raise funds ahead of next season.
According to Football London, Pablo Mari, who is currently on loan at Monza, poses as a highly likely candidate to depart from the Emirates.
And the Gunners appear set for a £5.9million windfall from a possible deal involving Mari.
An agreement is highly likely but talks will only take place if Monza avoid the drop.
However, Raffaele Palladino’s side appear safe as they are currently 10th with 14 points separating them from the relegation zone.
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Therefore, Mari is among the Arsenal loanees that could command a transfer fee in the summer along with Nicolas Pepe, Folarin Balogun and Nuno Tavares, who currently play at Lille, Reims and Marseille respectively.
The Spaniard was Arteta’s first ever signing back in January 2020 when he arrived on loan from Flamengo.
The centre-back signed a permanent deal six months later but failed to break into the Spanish tactician’s line-up and was shipped out on loan at Udinese in January 2022.
The 29-year-old stayed at the Stadio Friuli for six months and was then loaned out to Monza where he has since been going from strength to strength.
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Mari hit the ground running upon his arrival at the Stadio Brianteo in August.
The defender’s momentum was cut short in October when he fell victim to a deadly knife attack in a supermarket near Milan that left one dead and five others injured.
The ex-Manchester City player underwent surgery and had two muscles repaired.
But Mari returned to action less than two months later after the incident and has since continued to impress in Palladino’s backline.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
