Gabriel Martinelli transfer news: Al Hilal and Arsenal make progress on deal for Brazilian winger

Arsenal and Al Hilal have made progress in the last few days over a deal for Gabriel Martinelli.

Martinelli is seriously considering joining Al Hilal if a deal can be agreed between the clubs.

As an agreement on the fee nears, there is also expected to be a sell-on clause involved to the tune of 20 per cent of any future profit.

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Arsenal are looking at potential new forward options themselves before the deadline, with Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez still their top target.

Reports have linked them with Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, but he has picked up a left foot injury and could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, according to Sky in Italy.

Sky in Italy are reporting that Juventus' medical staff are looking at various methods to find the best possible solution - but are not ruling out surgery that could rule him out for several weeks.

Martinelli was not named in the Arsenal matchday squad for the Community Shield win over Manchester City or the opening day victory over Coventry.

Analysis: Are Arsenal risking being short at left wing?

Sky Sports' Sam Blitz:

Arsenal started last season with Leandro Trossard and Martinelli as their two main left wing options. Should Martinelli's move to Al Hilal go through, they will start this season with neither of them.

Mikel Arteta's side are undergoing a slight revolution in that left-wing role, with Christos Tzolis set to be the only recognised left winger in the Arsenal squad.

The Greek winger has started his career in north London on fire - but with a week of the window to go, Arsenal could risk leaving themselves short on that flank.

Eberechi Eze came on as a left winger in Friday's win over Coventry, so there is cover in a makeshift area. The same applies to Noni Madueke, who has also featured on the left for Arsenal.

But Madueke and Eze both have an important role in providing cover and competition for Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard - who both don't have the best injury record. They may be needed elsewhere.

Arsenal's attacking targets are also slimming down. There is still interest in Atletico Madrid's Alvarez but that is far from a guarantee, with the Argentine's heart set on a move to Barcelona.

With Juventus' Yildiz now injured, sporting director Andrea Berta may have to produce a major move in the last week of the window.

Martinelli, meanwhile, departs Arsenal as a cult hero. He is one of three Arsenal players - alongside Saka and Reiss Nelson - who was in the Gunners squad when Arteta first took charge in December 2019.

He remained a popular player despite only scoring one Premier League goal last season - albeit an important one against Manchester City.

His record in the Champions League was much better, scoring six goals in his first seven matches in the competition last season - but consistency and confidence was lacking at the end of the campaign.

And Martinelli may be the player who takes the fall to improve Arsenal's overall transfer business. Any deal involving the Brazilian would surely break Arsenal's sale record - which has stood for nine years since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain departed for Liverpool in 2017.

Arsenal need to sell better as a football club - does that start right now with the Brazilian?

Wright: Martinelli deserves to be treated with more respect

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright speaking to Sky Sports:

"The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable.

"I know they might want him out, and a lot of people might say, 'yeah, it's time for him to move him on'. But there's ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave.

"Not being involved in the squad, not being spoken to, he doesn't know what's going on. And yes, I know this - he doesn't know what is happening.

"He's done enough with this squad to be treated with a little bit more respect than he's being treated with at the moment.

"If you bring Vini in, Martinelli can say to himself, 'OK, they've brought him in, they've brought Tzolis in, I might be third [in the pecking order].

"But if you bring Tzolis in and have [Noni] Madueke on the other side, you're thinking to yourself, 'I can still have it with these two, I've got something to offer'. For him to be nowhere near it, it just makes me feel a bit sad for him."

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