Arsenal have made their move for Eberechi Eze and the player wants to join them from Crystal Palace.
Talks over the England international between Palace chairman Steve Parish and counterpart Daniel Levy have taken place over recent days but Arsenal’s interest has remained with negotiations now underway between the clubs following the knee injury suffered by Kai Havertz.
Spurs had the conditions of a deal agreed with Palace today and the player but are ready to move on to alternative targets if Eze chooses Arsenal.
Palace would not finalise a deal because they wanted the 27-year-old available for Thursday’s Conference League play-off match with Fredrikstad.
Arsenal have indicated a willingness to meet the conditions and he wants to join them, leaving Spurs with little option but to look elsewhere.
The Athletic reported earlier on Wednesday that Arsenal were actively exploring the transfer market to potentially reinforce their attack in the event Havertz is sidelined for a significant period of time.
Eze, who was a boyhood Arsenal fan and played in the club’s academy, is keen to make the next step in his career and Palace accept he deserves a top move.
Eze ended last season with nine goals in his final 13 matches for Palace, including the winner in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City and a goal in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal.
Despite speculation over his future, Eze started for Oliver Glasner’s side in the Community Shield win over Liverpool and Sunday’s Premier League opener against Chelsea.
Speaking after the goalless draw at Chelsea, Glasner said: “You are just talking about rumours. Eberechi Eze, as much as I know, has a contract with Crystal Palace, he’s a Crystal Palace player. I know Ebs’ clause is gone, it’s the club’s decision and we will see what happens.”
Arsenal have already added significantly in attacking areas this summer with Viktor Gyokeres arriving from Sporting CP in a €63.5m move and Noni Madueke joining from London rivals Chelsea for £48.5m. Ethan Nwaneri has also committed his future to the club with a new long-term contract.
Eze joined Palace from Queens Park Rangers in the summer of 2020 in a deal worth around £17m and has made 169 appearances for the south London club, scoring 40 times. He has been capped 12 times by England, scoring once.
Why Arsenal want Eze
Analysis from Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas
Arsenal are huge admirers of Eberechi Eze’s talent.
The club initially explored a move for Eze when contact negotiations with Ethan Nwaneri were at a delicate stage. Once Nwaneri agreed a new deal, Arsenal’s interest waned, and they focused on other areas of the squad.
Throughout, Arsenal have held concerns over price: they have been loath to meet a Palace valuation in the region of £60million.
Their pressing need for attacking reinforcements, particularly in the light of Kai Havertz’s injury, may change things. Arsenal are still awaiting the full prognosis for Havertz, but if he is to be absent for a considerable period, it will weaken their attack.
Eze is not a direct replacement for Havertz, but his signing would potentially free up the likes of Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard to fill in at centre-forward until the Germany international returns.
Aside from Eze’s obvious quality, there’s an emotional component for Arsenal fans: Eze is a boyhood Arsenal fan who was part of the club’s academy. Throw in the prospect of beating Spurs to his signing, and there’s plenty for Arsenal supporters to be invested in…
What he would bring to Arsenal
Analysis by senior data writer Mark Carey
Mikel Arteta has needed to strengthen the left side of his attack this summer.
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s output was in the good-not-great bucket last season, and it is clear that Arsenal needed players with the same attacking ferocity that comes from their right flank with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Along with Noni Madueke, Eze’s arrival provides that added strength from the left side of the pitch with a truly versatile profile — operating best as a No 10 but able to play on the left side of his team’s attack or drop into a left-sided midfield position if required. Whatever his role, he will look to find the space to impose maximum damage to the opposition with the sharpest efficiency.
In the modern game, those who can break a player-for-player press with a drop of the shoulder or a driving run forward have never been so valuable — opening up the opposition structure with a moment of individual quality as the dominoes begin to fall. Eze also has the ability to thread a pass forward when spaces open up in front of him, making him a double threat in the attacking third.
Acquiring an attacking midfielder of the 27-year-old’s creative profile will be a crucial addition in Arsenal’s attack, and could well be the difference between a good season and a title-winning one.
(Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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