Arsenal must offload midfielder before £17.2m capture of Inter ace Mateo Kovacic

ARSENAL must let veteran midfielder Mikel Arteta go this summer to make room for Inter's Mateo Kovacic.

Mateo Kovacic playing for InterGETTY

Mateo Kovacic (left) could sign for Arsenal this summer

Arteta is expected to leave the club come July, with his contract expiring and David Moyes' Real Sociedad reportedly interested.

But no deal is done yet and there were hopes he would be kept on another year to add experience to manager Arsene Wenger's squad.

But that now seems unlikely as the Gunners line up a bid for Kovacic.

The Croatian ace, 20, has made 35 appearances for club and country this season, scoring five Serie A goals.

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He is reportedly one of the most sought-after players in Europe, with Everton failing with a £14.6million bid.

Inter value the player at £17.2m, a snip for Arsenal compared to the £42.5m paid out for Mesut Ozil and £30m on Alexis Sanchez in recent seasons.

And Italian newspaper Tuttosport claim that a deal will only go through once Arteta leaves the club.

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