Al-Hilal Martinelli fee set to be higher than expected

Previous reports had suggested that Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal were closing in on a €58m fee to sign Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal, with another €8m in add-ons to bring the total package to €66m.

But David Ornstein reported for The Athletic on Sunday that the clubs are now close to finalising the transfer for €70m (£60m) fixed, with no add-on payments involved in the deal.

Ornstein reports that personal terms haven’t yet been agreed, but they aren’t anticipated to be an issue, and Martinelli will travel to complete the move early this week.

That may not even be the last of the money Arsenal receive, as James Benge also reported on Sunday that progress has been made ironing out issues on a sell-on clause.

Benge had previously broken the news that Arsenal were looking to include a sell-on in the deal, which could provide the club with a further financial boost further down the line.

All in all, this is easily Arsenal’s club-record sale, which is both a reflection of some good negotiating in this instance, as well as a more general failure by the club to get better fees in the past.

Martinelli has been a key player for Arsenal over the last seven years, making 278 appearances and scoring 62 goals from his spot on the left wing.

The 25-year-old has won the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Community Shield, and he extended his contract on a couple of occasions amid intense interest from elsewhere.

But the last couple of weeks have made it clear Mikel Arteta no longer intends to give the winger significant minutes, leaving him out of the matchday squads against Manchester City and Coventry City. It seems his move to the Saudi Pro League is now almost done.