Reports indicate that Arsenal holding midfielder Mathieu Flamini has been informed by the club that he is free to leave the Gunners before the end of this summer transfer window. Flamini signed back with Arsenal in 2013 following a stint with AC Milan, but was displaced in the heart of the Gunners' midfield by Francis Coquelin last season.
Leaving on his own terms
The Frenchman, despite drawing interest from numerous teams including Galatasaray SK, has made it clear that he wants to earn back his starting position. He last started a match in December of 2014. Rumours also linked Flamini to be on transfer to SC Bastia this summer.
Flamini, 31, is holding out for a pay-off, as he knows not many teams are likely to give him the salary he currently earns at Arsenal. He was a member of the Gunners from 2004 to 2008 before his Milan stint.
"I don't like to give up that easily," Flamini said last month. "Everything will be open and I will work hard to get my place back."
That role will be an uphill battle for the man nicknamed 'Flattuso' by his club mates, as Mikel Arteta is also ahead of him. Manager, Arsene Wenger didn't place Flamini in the match-day squads against Chelsea in the Community Shield or for Arsenal's opening day defeat to West Ham in the Premier League.
Career numbers as a Gunner
Flamini has made over 152 appearances in an Arsenal kit over his entire career. He made 102 of those from 2004 to 2008, scoring 7 goals. He has added three to that tally since rejoining the club back in 2013.
He has also appeared 11 times with French national squads, scoring a goal in eight games for the U-21 team. Flamini has three caps with the French National Team.
Wenger has also been rumored to have interest in Sevilla's holding midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, and a Flamini exit could open up more room for the Polish international on the club's roster.