Arsenal have no intentions of parting ways with their 24-year-old striker Eddie Nketiah despite a bid from Crystal Palace for his services.
According to a report by Football Transfers, Crystal Palace are looking to bolster their attack in the ongoing transfer window and have had their eyes on Eddie Nketiah. The Eagles were keen on signing the Arsenal backup striker, but they might have to look elsewhere as the Gunners rule out a January move. They even submitted a loan bid to secure his services.
Crystal Palace Need Signings
Crystal Palace are six points clear of the drop zone at this stage, and they need more firepower to avoid getting dragged into the relegation battle. The Eagles lost a lot of quality during the summer as key players left the club. So, they wanted to sign Nketiah to give themselves a boost for the second half of the season.
Crystal Palace were in talks with Arsenal for the services of the 24-year-old even before the transfer window started. They had even submitted an offer for him which was rejected by the Gunners. But, the London club still have not lost hope and recently made a loan offer with a buy obligation that will be activated in the summer.
Eddie Nketiah Wanted From Across London
While Nketiah is a backup striker at the club and his £100,000-a-week wages are considered too much money for someone who is not a regular, the North London club still cannot sanction his departure in the ongoing transfer window.
Arsenal want to first sign a new striker who can replace the 24-year-old before sanctioning his departure. The Gunners have a shortlist of potential targets who they want to sign to end their struggle in front of goal.
Despite the improved performances of his team over the past few seasons, Mikel Arteta is still not satisfied, and one of his major concerns has been the number nine slot. His strikers have not scored enough goals, and he wants to sign a proven goal scorer which is unlikely to happen in the ongoing window.
While there is still time and things can happen, the Gunners will have to first sanction departures to make it happen. As a result, the arrival of a new number nine, and the departure of Eddie Nketiah on loan to Crystal Palace is unlikely to happen in January.
