Arsenal Transfer News: Summer Exit Imminent, as Experienced Midfielder Agrees Move: Report

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could be in need of a defensive midfielder after all this season, with Mathieu Flamini apparently closing in on a move to Galatasaray, the same club Lukas Podolski signed for earlier this summer.

The Gunners were heavily linked to the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Geoffrey Kondogbia and William Carvalho earlier in the transfer window, but interest in signing a new defensive midfielder to compete with Francis Coquelin has seemingly cooled, leading to some of those targets signing elsewhere.

Schneiderlin eventually signed for Manchester United, while Kondogbia agreed a deal with Inter Milan from Monaco. Carvalho has been ruled out for a few months through injury, throwing that particular transfer into doubt as well.

Arsenal have three midfielders who can play in the holding midfield role at the moment in Coquelin, Flamini and Mikel Arteta.

Arteta signed a new one-year contract with the club a few days ago, and looks certain to play as the backup to Coquelin in case of an injury, with Flamini thought to be the third choice in the position.

Coquelin and Arteta might also be a sound option in the big games, leaving Flamini with very little possible playing time next season, unless, of course, the injury curse strikes Arsenal again.

If Wenger has a deal in place to bring a defensive-minded midfielder this summer as well, then the manager will need to let go of one of the three, and the obvious choice is Flamini.

The France international midfielder has a year to go on his current contract, but according to Turkish publication Medya Haber, Flamini has agreed a deal with Galatasaray.

It remains to be seen how much substance is there in these reports of a Flamini exit, but if it does turn out to be true, then the chances of Wenger going into the transfer market to sign a new midfielder is pretty high.

Apart from Carvalho, Grzegorz Krychowiak of Sevilla is reportedly seen as an option, and so are the Bender brothers –Lars and Sven – who play for Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund respectively.