One Premier League club have now emerged as potential suitors for an Arsenal star who is no longer in Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Arsenal need to clear space in their squad in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Eddie Nketiah is one of the players who likely has no future at the Emirates Stadium. The Hale End academy graduate started the season as a regular feature in the team, and enjoyed some impressive form.
The striker netted twice in the opening three games of the campaign, and scored his maiden Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United in October. The 25-year-old was rewarded for his fine to start to the season with a first senior England cap.
However, after that performance against the Blades, Nketiah failed to score another goal in the Premier League for the rest of the campaign. His opportunities to start matches dwindled after the turn of year, as he slipped down the pecking order following Kai Havertz’s emergence as a striker.
Fulham interest in Eddie Nketiah could help Arsenal seal Benjamin Sesko deal
The Gunners are now keen to add extra firepower to their ranks. Arsenal have made a move to sign Benjamin Sesko, whose arrival in North London would push Nketiah even further out of the picture.
He clearly is not in Mikel Arteta’s plans anymore, and at this stage in his career he needs to be playing regular football. As such, Arsenal are keen to offload Nketiah, with a view to using the funds raised to complete a deal for Sesko. As reported by The Sun, Fulham are “willing to pay” up to £30 million to secure the services of the Arsenal outcast.
Fulham are also keen to sign Emile Smith Rowe, another Arsenal academy product who has struggled for regular game time of late.
A move to Fulham would be perfect for Eddie Nketiah after his Arsenal career has stalled
A switch to Craven Cottage would likely be ideal for Nketiah. He would stand a great chance of playing regularly there, and would be able to remain in London.
Nketiah is good enough to thrive at Premier League level, albeit probably not at the very top end of the table where the Gunners are now competing. Given regular game time for Fulham, or a club of that stature, he will get goals.
£30 million would be a fair price for Arsenal to pocket for the player who has made 168 appearances for the club, netting 38 times. As he is a homegrown player, that money would also count as pure profit, which would help sporting director Edu to balance the books this summer.