Arsenal's transfer business in recent years has often been viewed in a good light. Gone are the days of placing bets on risk players with sporting director Edu Gaspar hand-picking a handful of smart acquisitions to elevate the club to within touching distance of the Premier League title.
Yet away from the incomings, Arsenal have constantly fallen at the same hurdle of failing to recoup the millions paid for players. For example, goalkeeper Bernd Leno joined Fulham for a deal that could total £8million if they stay in the Premier League next season, significantly less than the £20million they brought him for in 2018.
There was also the case of Alexandre Lacazette. The French striker was signed for a then-club-record fee of £46.5million in 2017. Five years later he returned to Lyon on a free transfer after his contract in north London expired.
