West Ham United remain interested in a possible deal for Eddie Nketiah in the summer when he will be a free agent.
According to journalist Paul Brown on Givemesport, West Ham United continue to hold an interest in Eddie Nketiah, who will leave Arsenal in the summer when his contract expires. The Gunners will be eligible for compensation if the striker moves to clubs within England.
Eddie Nketiah is primed to leave the club as a free agent when his contract expires in the summer window. Arsenal have attempted to renew his deal on multiple occasions, only for the player’s camp to reject their overtures in an attempt to secure a better offer from elsewhere.
Nketiah has featured just six times in the Premier League this season. However, he was a regular during Arsenal’s Carabao Cup run and featured in their FA Cup third-round loss to Nottingham Forest. Mikel Arteta preferred Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette to start up front, which restricted Nketiah’s chances of playing regularly.
Despite Aubameyang’s exit in January, Nketiah finds himself more on the bench than on the pitch, with Lacazette the preferred choice to lead the line. Both these stars have expiring contracts, which has prompted the Gunners to look for a top-rated striker for next season, with a host of names being linked.
While Arteta and the club hinted at keeping Nketiah for the long-term future and made multiple contract proposals, the striker seems intent to find a club where he can play regularly. Arsenal rejected Newcastle United’s late approach in the January transfer window as they were short on numbers in the position.
However, with the striker’s contract set to run out, many Premier League sides are expected to chase Nketiah’s signature. Among those are Crystal Palace, who also saw an approach rejected in January by the Gunners. However, they signed Jean-Philippe Mateta permanently since, leaving West Ham as a viable contender for Nketiah’s capture
The Hammers failed to sign a striker in the January window despite links to various names ranging from Darwin Nunez to Duvan Zapata. West Ham’s priority for the summer is to sign a quality striker to provide backup for Michail Antonio, a role they believe would suit Nketiah.
The Arsenal striker can also play out wide, which could give David Moyes an additional option in the attacking third. The prospect of staying in London could also tempt Nketiah, although the chances of him getting regular playing time will be key in the Englishman’s final decision.
As for the finances, Arsenal will be owed a compensation fee for developing the player through their academy. This may not apply to foreign clubs, although West Ham will have to negotiate with the Gunners over a reasonable sum if they sign the striker or agree to pay a fee set by an independent tribunal.