Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in launching a swoop for Arsenal centre-forward Eddie Nketiah this summer.
According to a report from The Sun, Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has emerged as a transfer target for fellow Premier League clubs Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace in the ongoing window.
Nketiah, a product of the Arsenal youth academy, has found it hard to carve out a place for himself in the first-team at the Emirates. The 23-year-old had been sent on loan to Leeds United back in 2019/20 but has been with the Gunners since January last year, after he was recalled due to the lack of opportunities at Elland Road.
Unfortunately for Nketiah, things have been pretty much the same at Arsenal as well, with Mikel Arteta sticking by Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as his first-choice options in the No. 9 role, leaving the youngster feeding off of scraps with regard to game-time.
Indeed, Nketiah featured in just 17 Premier League matches in 2020/21, scoring just two goals. And, now that he has entered the final year of his contract with the north London giants, the Englishman could be shown the exit doors by Arsenal. Alerted by this situation, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace have now shown an interest in signing the 23-year-old.
Brighton had a disappointing 16th-place finish despite showing plenty of promise under Graham Potter. One of the main reasons for their lowly position was the inability to convert chances in the final third, with both Neal Maupay and ex-Arsenal, Manchester United man Danny Welbeck not firing on all cylinders.
Another new striker, as a result, would be a welcome addition to the Seagulls’ unit, with the report claiming that manager Potter has identified Nketiah as his priority for the summer and is ready to launch a £20 million offer for the Arsenal academy product.
However, they will likely face competition from Crystal Palace, who are also on the hunt for a new striker. With Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew not exactly being prolific options and on-loan forward Jean-Philippe Mateta yet to convince either, new manager Patrick Vieira is keen on adding another No. 9 to the ranks.
A move for Blackburn Rovers’ Adam Armstrong has been mooted, but Nketiah too is on the radars of the Eagles, although the report does mention that his valuation might put him out of their reach as they are reluctant to get into an auction for the Arsenal striker’s signing.
With Arsenal themselves looking to bring in a new striker this summer, Nketiah’s fate looks all but sealed. As for his next destination, it remains to be seen if either Brighton or Palace take concrete steps to sign him or a different club ends up swooping him away.
