Reiss Nelson is reportedly inching closer to making a cross-London switch from Arsenal to Crystal Palace on loan this summer.
According to a report by Tutto Mercato Web, Crystal Palace appear set to sign another player from a fellow London club in the summer transfer window. The Eagles are closing in on securing the services of Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson on a season-long loan deal.
Reiss Nelson joined the Arsenal academy as a nine-year-old nearly a decade and a half ago before subsequently rising through the ranks rapidly. The 21-year-old broke into the Gunners’ first-team setup at the onset of the 2017/18 season, aged just 18, and a bright future was mooted for him after impressing in his initial appearances.
In the four years since, though, the youngster has been unable to carve out a place for himself in the north London giants’ first-team unit. While Nelson did make a fair few appearances in the 2018/19 season and impressed on loan at Hoffenheim a season later, 2020/21 was a campaign to forget for the player, who could manage just 448 minutes of action for Arsenal.
With Arsenal in the market for attacking reinforcements this summer amid links with Dejan Kulusevski, Matchoi Djalo and a few others, Nelson’s prospects do not really appear to be bright. As a result, a loan move could serve him well, and Crystal Palace are ready to offer him just that.
Managed by Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, the south London club is undergoing a major transition this summer, having witnessed nearly a dozen players depart as free agents. Andros Townsend, now at Everton, was one of the players exiting Selhurst Park, which is why it is imperative that the Eagles sign a wide attacker in the ongoing window.
To that end, Nelson is definitely an option worth considering for Crystal Palace, who have already signed a couple of players from fellow London clubs in Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher. As per the report, the 21-year-old is set to join the club on a season-long loan from Arsenal, thereby bolstering their attacking unit.
What now remains to be seen is if Crystal Palace can move quickly to secure the services of Nelson ahead of their season-opener against Chelsea. If so, it will then be interesting to see if the young forward can resurrect a stuttering career at Selhurst Park.