Galatasaray's £38.4m bid puts Arsenal's Martinelli on the block

In a surprise development reported by , Arsenal have been offered £38.4 million by Turkish giants Galatasaray for Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli, with the €45 million proposal submitted in writing on the same day the club’s offer was disclosed on Aug 13, 2026, 6:15 AM GMT+1.

Galatasaray's £38.4m proposal

Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg posted on X: "More on the exclusive news: There is no agreement yet between Gabriel Martinelli and Galatasaray. Galatasaray’s main priority is now to reach an agreement with Arsenal first. The €45m offer including add‑ons was submitted in writing today. Rafael Leao remains on their shortlist, but a deal would be very difficult to realise. Martinelli is internally considered Galatasaray’s current top target for the wing." The €45 million figure converts to roughly £38.4 million, matching the amount cited in the headline.

While the offer remains subject to negotiation, Plettenberg confirmed that Galatasaray view Martinelli as their premier wing target, indicating a serious intent to strengthen their attacking options.

Arsenal's left‑wing overhaul

Arsenal have yet to secure a permanent left‑winger this summer. The only major signing so far is midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, acquired from Newcastle United for £75 million, leaving the left side of the attack largely unaddressed.

The club initially pursued Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, but Chelsea outbid them with a larger fee. French forward Bradley Barcola is also reported as a serious option, though his potential cost could be substantial.

Former Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard departed after a strong season, and Christos Tzolis arrived to replace him, but Arsenal appear poised to add an elite left‑winger, potentially at a price exceeding £100 million.

Martinelli's standing with Arteta

Gabriel Martinelli, who recently turned 25, was once projected to reach the very top of the game, yet Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that the Brazilian lacks the cutting edge required for a side aspiring to the levels of PSG and Bayern Munich.

Arteta praised Martinelli last year after a Champions League match, saying: “He fully deserved it. I adore Gabriel: his attitude, his commitment, his positivity, what he’s willing to do for the team. I was sure that Gabby was going to react like that. He has such a mentality. He’s constantly willing to learn, very demanding with himself and hopefully that gives him the confidence again because he is an outstanding player.”

Balancing a massive recent spend, Arsenal may keep Martinelli if a new winger commands a fee above £100 million, but the club’s financial strategy will dictate whether the Brazilian remains or moves on.

Jamie Kemble, a Welsh journalist based in Valencia, Spain, studied journalism at the University of South Wales and published the book Bluebird Heaven with Pitch Publishing. Since then he has specialised in football journalism, PR and Spanish translation, working with Reach PCL and Iconic Group. Readers of GiveMeSport can Add Us, view the Summary, Generate a report, Give feedback, and More.