NEWS. . . BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
It looks like Arsenal will lose Eddie Nketiah this summer, and the striker is said to be keen to sign for Olympique Marseille.
Nketiah has been a normal Mikel Arteta over the last two seasons, but the majority of his appearances have been made from the bench, starting just 10 Premier League games last season.
Also, while he has shown brilliance, the 25-year-old’s stats don’t make for wonderful reading, with just five league goals last season and none after scoring a hat-trick against Sheffield United last October.
With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus leading the pecking order and Arsenal searching for a new striker, it seemed highly likely that Nketiah would leave the Emirates in this movement window.
It was reported a few weeks ago that Marseille were interested in the former England foreigner and would make a move after completing the signing of Mason Greenwood from Manchester United.
This resolution has already been taken, with Foot Mercato reporting that Nketiah has been sold on loan from Marseille and that contract negotiations are underway between the player and the club.
In addition, the Ligue 1 side, now managed by former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, has made an initial offer to Arsenal whose price is not yet known.
It remains to be seen how much the Gunners would settle for their academy graduate, who still has 3 years left on his contract and has attracted a lot of interest from Premier League teams over the last year.
Should Nketiah sign up for the French club, he and Greenwood would well upgrade former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who left for Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah earlier in the window.
Marseille are very active in the transfer market and Fabrizio Romano reports that they are very interested in signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Tottenham.
The Danish star made 39 appearances last season but, like Nketiah, found himself on the bench most of the time, starting just 8 league games, and the defensive midfielder is obviously not part of Ange’s long-term plans. Postecoglou.
The 28-year-old has already agreed terms with Marseille and Spurs to complete the deal.
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