Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are looking to raise funds from player sales too boost their transfer funds (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal are set to reject a £2.5million bid from Besiktas for long-serving defender Rob Holding.

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The 27-year-old joined the Gunners as an almost total unknown from Bolton in the summer of 2016.

Arsene Wenger infamously defended his signing after he turned in an impressive display against the champions Leicester by apologising for the fact Holding did not cost £50million, the same fee Manchester City paid for John Stones.

Holding suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury halfway through Unai Emery’s only full season in charge of the Gunners and, in truth, has struggled to deliver on his early promise ever since returning to full fitness.

Arteta opted to parachute Holding back into his central defence during the run-in last season following an injury to William Saliba, but the centre-half’s return coincided with a poor run of results that ultimately cost Arsenal the title.