Arsenal could be busy this summer as they aim to defend their Premier League title next term but former star Nacho Monreal has warned a major star could be shown the door

Ex-Arsenal star Nacho Monreal believes the Gunners could be forced to sell Declan Rice this summer if they make a move for Sandro Tonali. The Gunners are one of a number of sides to have been linked with the Newcastle star ahead of the transfer window.

Manchester United are also reportedly eyeing the Italian. And while the Red Devils are in need of midfield additions, the same cannot quite be said of Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta already has Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Christian Norgaard to choose from. Former Arsenal defender Monreal has now shared his thoughts on a deal and suggested that one of the club’s big names could be sold if Tonali is signed.

Speaking to Rekatochklart, the Spaniard said: “If Arsenal sign Tonali, obviously they will have the best midfield in the world. But they signed Zubimendi last year for a lot of money, so it is a difficult one.

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“To have both Tonali, Zubimendi, and Rice would be a lot, so I can only imagine that they would have to sell either Zubimendi or Declan Rice if they really want Tonali. In my opinion, they already have the two best defensive midfielders in the world.”

Rice, 27, was signed in a £105m deal from West Ham in 2023 and he has gone on to make 158 appearances. He still has two years left on his contract in North London, having helped the side to the Premier League crown.

But it appears that he is not considering going anywhere, having vowed to go one better under Mikel Arteta after being beaten in the Champions League final. He said: “He’s [Arteta] gutted. We’re all gutted. It’s a Champions League final. The emotions and the stakes are so high. It’s cruel, that’s football.

“He just spoke about how much he loves us as a group and this season what we’ve done in terms of how we’ve been every single game, 100 per cent, given absolutely everything.

“With everything that’s been thrown at us, I think we’ve come really far as a group this year. This is only the start for this group again.

“We got over the line in the Premier League, which was a dream come true. This would have been one step further, but it wasn’t meant to be. We keep building.

“Since I came to the club, it was a quarter-final exit, semi-final, and now a final. We keep going, we keep staying positive. That’s one thing about this group, this isn’t going to define us.”

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