West Ham United are reportedly leading the race to sign Eddie Nketiah, who is facing an uncertain future at Arsenal, in a Bosman move.
According to a report from Daily Mail, Arsenal are facing a battle to keep hold of Eddie Nketiah. The young forward has enjoyed a rapid rise in stock in recent weeks, but with his contract at the Emirates expiring at the end of the season, many expect him to depart in a Bosman move in the summer.
Nketiah’s precarious situation has put West Ham United on alert, with the Hammers ready to snap him on a free transfer at the end of the season. David Moyes, after all, is desperately searching for a new forward in the market, and it appears the Arsenal starlet has emerged as one of his top targets.
Nketiah is a product of the Arsenal academy that has yielded quality players such as Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in recent years. While Nketiah was always considered a step below the others, he has recently started to make an impression under Mikel Arteta, notably scoring braces against Chelsea and Leeds United.
The youngster’s performances have led to widespread praise from the Arsenal fans, with many supporters favouring his renewal before the season comes to an end. While the two parties are locked in negotiations over a new deal, they are yet to reach an agreement, with Arteta not very certain of keeping hold of the striker.
With Alexandre Lacazette also set to depart at the end of the season, it is apparent Arteta wants to remodel the goalscoring department in the summer. Arsenal have been linked with a move for several strikers across Europe, including Inter Milan frontman Lautaro Martinez.
The addition of a new number nine could once again reduce Nketiah’s game-time. Arsenal are thus not in a position to promise the youngster regular game-time at the Emirates next season, and that is where West Ham come into the fray.
The Hammers are scouring the market for a new striker this summer. West Ham want to find an alternative for Michail Antonio, who has struggled with inconsistency this term and is currently the only recognised option in the number nine slot.
West Ham have targeted a move for Blackburn forward Ben Brereton Diaz. But in Nketiah, they could find themselves a young phenom who has experience at the highest level of football and the potential to become an asset under Moyes, thanks to his pace and dynamism in the final third.
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With his Arsenal contract expiring at the end of the season, Nketiah could be available for a Bosman move as well, making him nothing less than a potential bargain for West Ham.
