Arsenal could be set to make several significant sales in the summer window, and striker Eddie Nketiah looks destined for the exit door.
The 24-year-old has not started a single game since a defeat to Fulham on New Year’s Eve, having fallen down the striking pecking order behind Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard.
Nketiah started the campaign superbly, with goals against Nottingham Forest and Fulham earning him a call-up to the England squad, but he has managed just six strikes in 37 appearances across all competitions this season.
In recent months, the striker has been linked with Crystal Palace and Brentford, among other clubs including sides from the Bundesliga, and there is plenty of interest in him.
Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now told Arsenal Insider that the club want a big fee for their homegrown star, and one that eclipses the deal which took Folarin Balogun to Monaco last summer.
Arsenal want a bigger fee than Folarin Balogun’s sale for Eddie Nketiah
Bailey has now revealed that Arsenal value Nketiah higher than they valued Balogun last year, who joined Monaco for a deal which could total £34.3m (€40m).
“I think the main issue for Nketiah, is the fee that Arsenal will ask for him,” the HITC expert explained.
“Arsenal have got their valuation marker in Balogun. Nketiah is going to cost more than Balogun, which is fair, Nketiah is probably a bit better than Balogun.
“So if you’ve got a 40 million Euro deal for Balogun, £40 million is probably about right for Nketiah.”
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Why Eddie Nketiah should command a bigger transfer fee than Folarin Balogun
Balogun thrived on loan at Stade De Reims last season, scoring 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 games which earned him the move to Monaco, but he has struggled since, with just seven goals in 26 league matches.
The 22-year-old made just 10 senior appearances for Arsenal, scoring twice, despite being one of the Hale End Academy’s standout prospects in recent years.
Balogun previously held the record for the most goals in a season for the under-18s, but teenage sensation Chido Obi-Martin broke that this week.
Nketiah was also a standout prospect at youth level, and is highly rated by Mikel Arteta. in 168 senior appearances he has managed 38 goals, which includes braces against Chelsea and Manchester United, and his work ethic has been commended in the past.
The £100k-a-week attacker has one England cap to his name and a long time left on his deal, whilst also standing out as a Premier League experienced option for the likes of Crystal Palace.
If Arsenal are to sell him this summer, he will command a much higher fee than Balogun given how much more he has done for the club.
Nketiah’s numbers this season do not stand out, but out of his 37 appearances, just 13 came from the start, and his nine goals and assists would likely have a higher total if given more consistent game time at a club which plays a system more suited to his strengths.