Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are among the clubs that remain interested in signing Eddie Nketiah after Bournemouth withdrew from the race.
CARSON, CA: Arsenal FC’s Eddie Nketiah reacts against AFC Bournemouth during a pre-season friendly between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Eddie Nketiah has been at the centre of a busy summer of transfer speculation but things have not gone entirely to plan so far.
Marseille initially made a couple of bids for Nketiah but Arsenal rejected them and set their asking price at €30 million, with the Ligue 1 club wanting to pay a bit more for Elie Wahi and therefore dropping their bid for Nketiah.
Bournemouth then sold Dominic Solanke and were looking to replace him, with Nketiah being the favourite, but they again opted for another option, signing Evanilson from FC Porto for over £40 million.
Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah controls the ball during a pre-season club friendly soccer match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 31, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Sami Mokbel reported on Thursday that Bournemouth’s move for Evanilson would see them withdraw from the race for Nketiah, but added that other Premier League teams were also interested in the Arsenal striker.
Sky Sports News later reported that Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest were interested in Nketiah and were discussing terms of a deal.
Palace in particular are thought to be in the running for the forward, with the report adding that Nketiah wants to play regularly.
CARSON, CA: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal FC moves the ball against AFC Bournemouth during the first half of a preseason friendly between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Nketiah made 37 appearances for Arsenal last season but only started 13 of them.
The striker has featured throughout pre-season and was in Mikel Arteta’s squad for Saturday’s game against Wolves but is expected to move on if Arsenal can find a buyer for the right price.