Crystal Palace will reportedly make another attempt to sign Eddie Nketiah in the summer, but Arsenal are keen to retain the forward.
According to the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace are hopeful about signing Eddie Nketiah in the summer when they are likely to attempt again to sign the forward from Arsenal in a Bosman move. But the Gunners remain hopeful of retaining their academy product beyond the transfer window.
Eddie Nketiah has put himself in the shop window after a terrific display against Chelsea earlier this week. The young striker is expected to move out of Arsenal in the summer as his contract expires in the summer, with the Gunners still retaining hope of tying him down to a new deal.
Mikel Arteta admitted it was his fault Nketiah has not played more during this season. After Arsenal beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a game in which the forward scored twice to re-ignite the team’s bid to finish in the top four, the manager was critical of his own approach regarding the forward.
Arteta said, “If Eddie hasn’t played more, it’s my fault and because as a manager I have missed something or haven’t had the courage to play him more, and today he showed me again how wrong I was.”
Nketiah has been on the periphery of Arteta’s plans this term, often arriving as a bench option during games. His best performances have come in the Carabao Cup and the cameo role which helped Arsenal overcome Wolves at home.
As things stand, Nketiah will leave Arsenal on a free transfer, and there are plenty of clubs interested in signing the 22-year-old. Crystal Palace, who also saw a bid in January rejected by Arsenal, have their eyes on the forward. The Gunners were running thin in the position after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Barcelona, and Arteta needed to keep hold of the remaining members.
Nketiah has repaid the faith shown by Arteta before the Chelsea game, and now Arsenal are hopeful of making him stay beyond the summer. Their biggest challenge comes from Crystal Palace, who have shown their interest before and will attempt to bring him to Selhurst Park in a Bosman move.
Crystal Palace have an array of strikers onboard, although a few, like Christian Benteke, could leave the club. Nketiah represents an fairly experienced individual with knowledge of the Premier League. However, Crystal Palace face competition from clubs in Germany.
Elsewhere, Arsenal have already started looking for replacements, with the Gunners in pole position to sign PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo. Arteta will be making one last attempt to convince Nketiah that his future lies at the Emirates, although Arsenal may not be able to guarantee the game time that the 22-year-old striker desires.
Also Read: Three strikers Arsenal should consider in the summer
Nketiah could be a solid addition at Crystal Palace or some other club, and he has a long, bright future ahead of him. However, he could thrive at Arsenal even as a second-choice striker, given the team is young and of the same wavelength.
