Arsenal are prepared to perform a U-turn and make Eddie Nketiah one of their top earners, though a report has detailed seven potential hitches in their plans.
The 22-year-old has hit a purple patch of form at just the right time. Nketiah has bagged four goals in his last four matches to give Arsenal vital breathing room in the race for top four.
Indeed, the Gunners currently sit four points above bitter rivals Tottenham. That means the fate of fourth spot will still remain in Arsenal’s hands even if they lose the north London derby on Thursday night.
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Arsenal’s striker department looks destined to experience great change this summer. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has already left, while Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette are free agents-to-be.
All three departing would leave Arsenal scrambling to sign at least two new strikers. However, according to the Sun and Mirror, Nketiah may yet be retained.
The Mirror initially report that a third round of talks have been held with Nketiah and his camp. On the agenda is a contract extension which the Sun stress would make him very rich indeed.
They add his current salary is believed to be around £45,000-a-week. However, if the new offer is accepted, he would go from being ‘one of the lowest earners in the squad to one of the highest’.
Yet both reports are in agreement in that pinning Nketiah down to fresh terms isn’t straightforward, not least because six potential suitors are circling.
Suitors ready to pounce
From within the Premier League, West Ham, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle are all linked.
Palace tried to sign Nketiah in January before turning Jean-Philippe Mateta’s loan spell permanent instead. The Daily Mail recently claimed David Moyes’ Hammers are currently on pole if Nketiah were to leave.
The initial reports also indicate two German clubs – of which Bayer Leverkusen are one – are circling for Nketiah. The identity of the other side was not named.
Those six hitches ensure Nketiah will not be short of options. However, the seventh is arguably the biggest barrier to Arsenal’s hopes.
It’s once again stressed that Nketiah is desperate to feature regularly. Only recently has he begun to do so under Mikel Arteta, but if another major name is signed, he could be relegated to the bench yet again.
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Arsenal are almost certain to sign at least one high-profile forward even if Nketiah stays. Man City’s Gabriel Jesus is understood to be their top target at present and his agent recently spoke out on a move.
Should Nketiah stay or go?
The answer to that question largely depends on who and how many other strikers Arsenal sign this summer. However, it is unreasonable to think Nketiah will wait until their transfer plans are completed before deciding his own future.
Nketiah is more of a poacher than Lacazette and that type of striker may be just what Arsenal need.
They have an abundance of creativity in the trio that lines up behind the lone centre-forward. The likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard will create chances for fun and Arteta needs a forward who can convert at a high rate.
Source: TeamTalk
