Ligue 1 giants Marseille have failed with their latest bid to sign 25-year-old English striker Eddie Nketiah, with Arsenal turning down the improved offer.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Eddie Nketiah is the subject of interest from Marseille. The Ligue 1 giants have presented a bid worth around €20 million to sign the English striker from Arsenal. However, the Gunners have knocked back the offer, with the homegrown player keen on remaining in London after departing from the Emirates in the summer transfer window.
The Eddie Nketiah story
Eddie Nketiah has blown hot and cold since breaking into the first-team squad at Arsenal several years ago. A native of London, the Englishman spent several years with Chelsea before joining the North London outfit in 2015. Since then, Nketiah has made considerable progress but has not stamped his authority in the senior setup at the Emirates.
Nketiah made his first-team bow as an 18-year-old in September 2017. However, while the 25-year-old has made his mark on many occasions, he has not become the undisputed first-choice striker despite turning out over 150 times thus far for Arsenal while chipping in with 38 goals and seven assists.
The English striker faces an uncertain future at Arsenal midway through the summer transfer window after falling to third in the pecking order for strikers. So, a summer departure is on the cards, with Ligue 1 giants Marseille looking to beat the competition to his signature.
An adventure in Ligue 1 beckons
Marseille’s interest in Eddie Nketiah is understandable. While the Ligue 1 giants have signed Mason Greenwood from Manchester United in the summer transfer window, they have lost Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiyah.
So, it behoves Marseille to invest in a top-notch striker, with Nketiah emerging as a viable target. However, the Ligue 1 giants have failed to convince Arsenal to sell the 25-year-old Englishman for their desired price. They have faced rejection from Arsenal with their latest bid, worth around €20 million.
In addition, Nketiah is keen on remaining in London if he leaves Arsenal in the summer transfer window. So, while recent reports claimed the England international was keen on joining Marseille, the Ligue 1 outfit must look elsewhere for an offensive reinforcement.
