The secret behind Martinelli and Al-Hilal: Arsenal on the verge of making history

Will the deal happen?

Gabriel Martinelli is closing in on a move to Al-Hilal. Talks between the two clubs have reached an advanced stage, and the deal could hand "the Boss" a new winger while writing a historic chapter in Arsenal's sales record.

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According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, negotiations between Al-Hilal and Arsenal have entered their final stages, with a fee of between £50 million and £55 million on the table. The Gunners are now ready to sell, and talks continue over Martinelli's personal terms. The Brazilian holds the final say on his future.

This deal means more than the departure of one of Arsenal's most prominent wingers to the Roshn League. It reaches all the way to the club's coffers. Such a fee would push Arsenal's sales into record territory, toppling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has stood as their most expensive departure since his move to Liverpool in 2017.

English reports put the Oxlade-Chamberlain deal at around £35 million. Martinelli's transfer, at the numbers currently doing the rounds, would smash that mark by some distance and become the biggest sale in Gunners history.

Martinelli's exit looks more likely after he dropped out of Arsenal's plans at the start of the season. He did not feature in the squad against Manchester City in the Community Shield or Coventry on the league's opening day, a sign of the uncertainty hanging over his future at the Emirates Stadium.

The coming days now carry double weight for both sides. Al-Hilal want to get the deal done to make up for Malcom and give Simone Inzaghi a new winger. Arsenal, meanwhile, have a chance to squeeze the biggest possible return from a player who has worn their shirt since 2019. The Martinelli deal could strengthen Al-Hilal and rewrite Arsenal's sales record in one stroke.