Arsenal’s interest in Eberechi Eze remains despite Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit, but the Gunners can’t make a move until after they sell, according to a report.
Charles Watts reports for CaughtOffside that Arsenal’s interest in Eberechi Eze has never gone away, with the Gunners remaining keen on the midfielder throughout the summer.
Yet it’s always been a deal for the end of the summer window, with the focus currently on sales. Watts reports that a move for Eze feels unlikely until players leave, and nothing is close on that front yet.
As a result, Tottenham Hotspur are in a better position to complete the signing. They seem willing to a deal now, driven by the recent injury to James Maddison.
The Beautiful Game Podcast reported on Tuesday night that Arsenal remain in the race for Eze, but Spurs are currently the more advanced of the two clubs after formalising contact. The report added that the expectation is that a deal could be done under the player’s £68m release clause.
Yet Matt Barlow reports for the Scottish Daily Mail that Arsenal’s interest in Eze has faded “for the time being”, and that though the player was up for joining the Gunners, he’s also interested in the Spurs move.
An Arsenal sale or two in the coming week or two could change the picture and throw the Gunners back into the mix with renewed enthusiasm. But for the time being, Spurs look set to capitalise on the delays from their north London rivals.
Eze made his first appearance of the new campaign in Crystal Palace’s Community Shield win over Liverpool on Sunday, having scored Palace’s winner in the FA Cup final to earn a second Wembley appearance for the club in the first place.
The 27-year-old received positive reviews for his performance despite missing a penalty in the decisive shootout. Palace begin their Premier League season with a match away to Chelsea on Sunday, August 17th.