Arsenal in a race to raise £100m in player sales as Monaco prepare improved Folarin Balogun bid, with Gabriel among a host of names Gunners are considering selling

Arsenal are in a race to complete a planned £100 million summer fire sale, while Monaco prepare an enhanced bid for Folarin Balogun.

Striker Balogun is considered surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium, but the club still value him at £50 million.

Mail Sport understands that since returning from a loan spell at Reims last season, Balogun has spent part of the summer without first-team training.

The 22-year-old has not been included in the match squad for either of Arsenal’s first two games of the season.

A number of clubs have shown interest in Balogun this summer. Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham are among the teams requested.

But it is clear that Arsenal would push up Balogun’s asking price to sell to a direct Premier League rival.

AC Milan and Inter Milan have expressed interest, but it is Monaco that is believed to be most advanced in the race to become the US international.

Monaco saw a bid rejected by Arsenal earlier this season, but talks are underway for an improved bid closer to the Gunners’ asking price. Arsenal expects a bid from Monaco at the end of this week.

The striker is unlikely to be the only player from the Emirates before next week’s transfer deadline, as there are still as many as nine players that could leave.

There was uncertainty about the future of Gabriel Magalhaes after he was not in the starting line-up for the first two games of the season.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are eager to lure the Brazil international, while Real Madrid have also considered a move to replace Eder Militao, who has been absent for a long time due to injury.

There are indications that Gabriel is likely to stay, but there remains a slim chance that Arsenal would consider letting the central defender leave if they could find a replacement who they believe is an improvement on the 25-year-old.

Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is admired by Arsenal, but getting the England defender into the squad this late would be difficult. Palace have expressed an interest in Gunners defender Takehiro Tomiyasu this summer, but the Japanese defender has an important role to play following the ACL injury suffered by Jurrien Timber.

The Gunners could sell central defender Gabriel Magalhaes if they can find a suitable replacement

Elsewhere, Kieran Tierney has been a target for Newcastle, Aston Villa and Real Socieidad; while Albert Sambi Lokonga is wanted by Brighton.

There could also be offers for Rob Holding, Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares and Nicolas Pepe.

Arsenal, which could still enter the market to sign a defender or wide attacking player, have already sold Granit Xhaka, Pablo Mari, Matt Turner and Auston Trusty, netting just over £40 million.

But there is hope the club can recoup at least another £100m in turnover before the period closes