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GALATASARAY LAUNCH £40M BID FOR GABRIEL MARTINELLI
Turkish club Galatasaray have launched a bid in the region of £40M to Arsenal for Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli.
AFCFLAIR
12th August 2026 - 18:25PM
Galatasaray have launched their first initial bid for 25 year-old Brazil international Gabriel Martinelli. The Turkish side have had Martinelli on their radar since they were unable to conclude a deal for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao.
Gabriel Martinelli has 12 months left on his current Arsenal contract and is yet to be offered a renewal from Arsenal. The Premier League champions have been looking for potential buyers for the winger since the start of the transfer window, already offloading Arsenal team-mate Leandro Trossard to Besitkas.
The financial framework of Galatasaray's opening proposal is currently being evaluated by the Emirates hierarchy, who must now decide whether to cash in on the Brazilian or risk losing him for free next summer. Having already generated significant financial flexibility through the sale of Trossard, Arsenal are in a strong position to dictate the terms of any potential deal. Word from within London Colney suggests that while the club is highly open to facilitating Martinelli's departure, they will not sanction a cut-price exit and are demanding a premium fee that reflects his established Premier League pedigree.
The willingness to listen to offers for the 25-year-old is a direct reflection of Mikel Arteta's ruthless frontline evolution this summer. The recent blockbusting agreement to sign Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis for £34 million ensures that Arsenal already have a direct, high-output replacement ready to step straight into the left-wing vacancy. By replacing the out-of-favour Martinelli with the explosive Greek international, the Gunners are successfully resetting their attacking dynamic while continuing to raise vital capital for other areas of the squad.
With negotiations between Arsenal and Galatasaray now officially underway, developments are expected to move quickly as the European transfer deadline approaches. For Martinelli, a move to Istanbul offers a definitive chance to reignite his career as a marquee leading figure following a period of reduced minutes in North London. Meanwhile, for sporting director Andrea Berta, finalizing this high-profile departure will provide the ultimate clearing of the decks, freeing up the remaining squad space and wage budget needed to execute the club's final incoming emergency priorities before the window slams shut.
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