There is significant Premier League interest growing for the signature of Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, who could move in January or next summer.

According to journalist Ekrem Konur, Eddie Nketiah has no shortage of admirers. Aston Villa and Leeds United lead the chase to sign the Arsenal striker in the January transfer window or, if unsuccessful, next summer.

Eddie Nketiah’s contract at Arsenal expires next summer, with the young striker rejecting a new offer made by the club in the close season. These are indications the striker might leave either in January at a discounted price or on a free transfer next summer. The Gunners will receive a compensation amount for developing the player through their academy.

There was significant interest from Crystal Palace late in the summer, and the Eagles were willing to pay £10 million. Arsenal wanted nearly double of that amount, even as the two London clubs continued to hold talks, hoping to decrease the price. From Palace’s perspective, they were somewhat right to pay that fee for a player in his last contractual year.

The south London side ceded their interest and turned their attention towards signing Celtic star Odsonne Edouard late in the window. Nketiah might see that as a missed opportunity as he might have played more regularly than he would this season at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.

Unsurprisingly Nketiah has found game time hard to come by, playing a solitary game in the EFL Cup for the senior squad. In January, he might be given an escape route with a host of clubs reportedly interested in signing him.

Leeds United and Aston Villa are the sides showing keen interest in Nketiah. The 22-year-old striker has played for Marcelo Bielsa before, which might tilt the tide towards Leeds, as the player is familiar with the manager’s system.

However, Aston Villa’s recent rise within the Premier League might prove too hard to turn down. The interest from the Villans is quite baffling, considering they have enough strikers in the first team, especially after the signing of Danny Ings late in the summer window.

It is, therefore, unclear where Nketiah might fit in at Villa, although there is still plenty of room at Leeds to come in. There is also the reported interest from Premier League new boys Brentford, who might look to add a talented striker with speed and agility to a rather physical front two currently in their ranks.

Days closer to the January window may determine the direction of Nketiah’s career and where he ends up. It will also be interesting if he decides to stay put at Arsenal until the summer, but he will surely find game time hard to come by, considering Arsenal are not playing in Europe this season.

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