Arsenal are accelerating their attempts to sign Eberechi Eze with the player increasingly keen to affix the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta is keen so as to add more creativity and flexibility to his attack this summer after last season’s title challenge was undermined by injuries to key personnel.
Eze would offer Arteta options on the wing and in a central playmaking role wherein he has thrived for the Eagles during the last couple of years.
Club captain Martin Odegaard struggled to recuperate after an ankle operationlast September and endured a difficult campaign, but with few alternative options he was asked to shoulder the burden of creative responsibility.
Arteta doesn’t appear to trust teenager Ethan Nwaneri within the No.10 position at present and although Max Dowman is predicted to be promotedand potentially make his senior debut next season, it might be unfair to expect him to make a major impact at first team level.
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Fabio Vieira has returned from his loan spell at Porto, but he’s more likely to be deemed surplus to requirements and can leave as and when an acceptable offer arrives.
Eze has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham but is known to prefer a move to Arsenal, the club who released him when he was just 13.
Talks have taken place between Arsenal and the 27-year-old’s representatives to establish Eze’s salary demands and the small print of his release clause.
Based on The Evening Standard, while Arsenal would favor to barter a rather lower fee, there isn’t any way Palace would consider selling their prize asset for anything lower than the £68million which will be paid in three installments.
Arsenal, meanwhile have signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea.
The 30-year-old Spaniard spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, making 35 appearances in all competitions.
Arsenal had brought in Neto from the Cherries as back-up to David Raya, however the Brazilian has returned to the Cherries following the tip of his own season-long loan.
Kepa, who spent the 2023/24 campaign at Real Madrid, has signed a three-year deal. The fee is reported to be around £5million, with the transfer subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
‘I’m really, really comfortable to be here, really excited and looking out forward to what’s coming,’ Kepa told Arsenal’s website.
‘The ambition that’s shown on this club, after I talk with Mikel (Arteta) and (goalkeeping coach) Inaki (Cana), how much they show me their desire to win, I feel we’re so near winning and, hopefully, altogether, we will achieve it.’
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