Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta 'puts three loanees up for sale' as Fabio Vieira decision made

The Gunners sanctioned another wave of high-profile departures during the summer transfer window, where all of Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale, Charlie Patino, Mika Biereth and Brooke Norton-Cuffy were sold.

Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny and Arthur Okonkwo were also allowed to depart upon the expiration of their contracts, as Arsenal made room for David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino.

The Gunners - who currently reside in third place in the Premier League table - also allowed six senior players to depart on loan, three of whom could be on the permanent chopping block next year.

According to the Daily Mail, all of Fabio Vieira (Porto), Marquinhos (Fluminense) and Nuno Tavares (Lazio) are likely to see their Arsenal chapters come to a close in 2025, either in the summer or winter windows.

Tavares to be denied Arsenal lifeline?

Tavares's loan move to Lazio is already understood to contain an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met over the course of the season, but even if he fails to fulfil that criteria, he should still be severed from his Arsenal terms.

The former Benfica starlet has immediately adapted to Serie A football with a league-high eight assists in the 2024-25 Italian top flight, but he has only come up with one goal and two assists in 28 games for Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Brazilian attacker Marquinhos is due to return to Arsenal from Brazilian outfit Fluminense at the end of the month, but he has only posted an indifferent record of two goals and two assists from 29 matches for the South American giants.

Vieira has also struggled to adapt to life back at Porto, whom he has only recorded two goals and one assist for in 13 games this season, but his fortunes have taken a turn for the better recently.

The former Portugal Under-21 international has netted in each of his last two appearances for Porto, firstly a Europa League strike against Anderlecht before scoring against Casa Pia in the Primeira Liga on December 2.

What about Arsenal's other three loanees?

While Tavares, Vieira and Marquinhos are all on the Emirates chopping blocks, the situations of Karl Hein, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Reiss Nelson are less clear heading into the New Year.

Fulham loanee Nelson is ineligible to face his parent club in Sunday's Premier League London derby, although he is injured anyway, and Arteta made an intriguing comment about the Englishman in his pre-game press conference.

The Arsenal boss said that Nelson was still "our player" when asked about the handful of Gunners to make the move to Fulham in recent years, and his Cottagers loan does not include an option or obligation to buy.

The same is true of goalkeeper Hein, currently plying his trade at Real Valladolid and a possible new number two at Arsenal after Bournemouth loanee Neto leaves, but he is due to become a free agent next summer.

Finally, Sevilla do have the option of keeping Sambi Lokonga at the club next year, but the Belgian has played just nine times this term due to injury, doing himself no favours in his bid to earn a permanent switch.

Written by

Ben Knapton