Arsenal in advanced talks with Al-Hilal for Gabriel Martinelli transfer

Arsenal are in advanced talks with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal over the sale of Gabriel Martinelli for at least £50m.

The Brazil international, 25, is free to leave the club this summer, with manager Mikel Arteta making it clear the attacker is not in his plans.

Discussions between the clubs have intensified in the last 24 hours, with a deal now close.

If a final agreement is reached, it will be up to Martinelli - who has already turned down a move to Galatasaray - to decide whether he wants to play in the Saudi Pro League.

The wage package Al-Hilal are offering is also understood to be significantly more than his reported £180,000-per-week deal at Arsenal.

Martinelli, who joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019, has 12 months remaining on his deal at Emirates Stadium.

He made 53 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals, as the Gunners won the Premier League title.

But he was left out of the squad for their league opener against Coventry on Friday, which the Gunners won 3-0.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright was critical of Arteta's decision to omit Martinelli from the squad, as well as the club's treatment of the forward.

"The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable," Wright told Sky Sports.

"I know they might want him out, and a lot of people might say, 'yeah, it's time for him to move him on'. But there's ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave."

BBC Sport understands Arteta has made his position clear to Martinelli and explained his reasons why he has been left out of the squad.

Al-Hilal's interest in Martinelli runs alongside a move for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.