Arsenal could benefit by using Reiss Nelson in a player-plus-cash swap deal for Eberechi Eze. The attacking-midfielder has become the latest Crystal Palace star linked with an exit this summer, with both Arsenal and their north London rivals Tottenham interested in signing the player.
It is no secret that the Gunners are in search of a creative midfielder who can play on the left flank, with it being reported earlier this week by The Mirror that Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta had opened talks with Eze’s representatives. The England international, who scored the winner in this season’s FA Cup final, is understood to have a £68million release clause in his Palace contract. The 27-year-old crucially presents a cheaper alternative to Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who would also demand higher wages at Arsenal.
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And the Gunners can even look to lower Palace’s asking price by offering the Selhurst Park side a player, in the form of Nelson. The winger spent last season out on loan at Fulham and had impressed prior to his hamstring injury in December, which ruled him out for the rest of the season and meant he only managed 13 appearances.
Palace have shown interest in Nelson in the past and are again keeping an eye on the 25-year-old, according to TEAMtalk. His transfer value of £10m may help Berta hit two birds with one stone by offloading an unwanted player while securing Eze for a lower fee.
Eze, like Nelson, was once part of Arsenal’s famed Hale End academy but was released as a 13-year-old, which he previously admitted made him a “crying wreck". But there is now a real possibility he could end up back at the Emirates Stadium this summer, which would land a huge blow to bitter rivals Tottenham.
Spurs’ new manager Thomas Frank is a huge fan of Eze, who is believed to have become a major target with the side now set to miss out on signing Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. Frank was keen to take the Cameroon star with him to north London from Brentford but joining Manchester United was always Mbeumo's preference.
Alongside working on an Eze deal that would break Tottenham hearts, Arsenal are also conducting negotiations for other additions in the background. Spaniard Martin Zubimendi is expected to follow compatriot Kepa Arrizabalaga to the Emirates shortly.
Berta is also working on bringing in either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres as a striker. Sesko is believed to be the Gunners’ primary target, given his younger age and experience playing in a tougher league, with Bild now reporting that Leipzig have lowered their asking price to £59.7m for the 22-year-old Slovenia international.