Arsenal ready to offload nine players including Lacazette to raise transfer funds

Arsenal v Liverpool - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - July 15, 2020 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette scores their first goal [COURTESY]

Arsenal could offload up to nine first-team stars this summer, one of which is Alexandre Lacazette, as Mikel Arteta looks to raise funds.

The Spaniard has been hugely impressive since taking over at the Emirates in December and is set to lead a summer overhaul.

FA Cup success on Saturday has helped add £30m for the north Londoners as they secured a spot in the Europa League.

But Arteta knows he is working on a minimal budget and will have to sell players if he wants to secure his targets.

A host of players have long looked as if they were heading towards the exit door having failed to match expectations or fallen out of favour.

Sokratis, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Sead Kolasinac could all be heading for pastures new, reports the Daily Mail.

FA Cup Final - Arsenal v Chelsea - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - August 1, 2020 Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacts after dropping the trophy after winning the FA Cup [COURTESY]

While Lacazette and Hector Bellerin could both be moved on if an appropriate offer is made despite being regulars in the Gunners first team.

The Frenchman was signed for a hefty fee in Arsene Wenger's final year, but has been behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the pecking order.

Arsenal are desperate to keep hold of their star striker who scored both their goals at Wembley.

Arteta is keen to add Atletico Madrid's Thomas Partey and a new central defender despite welcoming William Saliba to the Emirates.

A permanent deal for Dani Ceballos is also on the agenda with the midfielder set for talks with parent club Real Madrid.

And the former Manchester City No 2 said that their FA Cup success should assist with their summer business.

He said: "I have presented my vision and my plans and all together we will try our best to get the club in the best possible position.

“I know how important it was as we needed to be in Europe. It is a must for our club and financially because it is a bigger step forward in order to allow us to do more things in the future and have a better structure financially.

“I am very pleased for both things - winning the trophy and having the option to play in Europe.”