Arsenal to shatter club record sale as Gabriel Martinelli closes in on £50m Al-Hilal transfer after being axed by Arteta

ARSENAL are closing in on a deal to sell Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi side Al Hilal. The Gunners are set to bank over £50million, which would make it a club-record sale, and talks over a fee are in the final stages. Gabriel Martinelli could be set for a move to Saudi Credit: Getty The £50million deal would be Arsenal’s biggest-ever sale Credit: PA Martinelli, 25, will receive a pay rise on his £180,000-a-week wages if he gives the green light to the move. The winger has been deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal, but he turned down an offer from Galatasaray earlier this month. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Martinelli’s position in Mikel Arteta’s plans has been made clearer since, though, and he was left out of the match-day squads for the first two games. The Brazilian is into the final year of his contract at the Emirates, although there is an option to extend it by 12 months. Arsenal have strengthened their left flank this summer by bringing in Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for £34million. The Greek star impressed in pre-season and caught the eye in the Gunners’ opening Premier League win over Coventry last week. Arteta wants to add another attacker to his squad; however, the club have failed to do so up until now. Arsenal are interested in Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, who could move before the transfer window shuts next week. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS But the Argentine has made it clear that his preference would be to head to Barcelona if he leaves the Spanish capital. Atletico, however, are adamant that they will not sell to Barca, which has opened the door for Arsenal. Arsenal’s current club-record sale dates back to 2017, when they sold Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool for £35m. Comment now