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Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal have expressed a strong interest in signing Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze as they look to bolster their attacking options.
Sky Sports News reports that Arsenal are exploring the conditions of a potential deal with the Eagles but face strong competition from a series of other Champions League clubs including Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal have previously been linked with Real Madrid winger Rodrygo and Athletic Bilbao playmaker Nico Williams as they look to enhance the left hand side of their attack before the start of the 2025/26 season.
Eze, who has been capped 11-times for England, has just enjoyed a career best season with Crystal Palace which saw him score 14 times and produced 11 assists in 43 appearances for the Selhurst Park club. The 26-year-old notably scored the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City to help the club achieve their first ever major honour while he also played a decisive goal throughout the team’s road to the final with goals against Aston Villa and Fulham in the semi-final and quarter-final respectively.
How much would Eberechi Eze cost this summer?
Crystal Palace hero Eberechi Eze is reported to have a release clause of around £60m which could rise to around £68m based on performance-related criteria and add-ons. However, the Eagles are desperate to keep Eze on board as they gear up for their first ever European campaign after securing a place in the Europa League.
Oliver Glasner has so far enjoyed a hugely productive first 18-months at Palace and has proven at Eintract Frankfurt that he’s capable of taking a team all the way to success in a European competition.
The 3AM Verdict: While Arsenal’s main objective should be signing a centre forward, it is clear to see that they also need an upgrade on the left side of their attack to boost their chances of a league title.
Eze outperformed both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli in terms of goal contributions last season despite playing for a team competing in the middle of the table as opposed to one pushing for a title.
The 26-year-old’s versatility also means he can thrive as a central attacking midfielder which will enable Arsenal to play a different way on occasion and open doors against teams setting up with a low block.
Ultimately, Eze’s underlying stats suggest he’d be a perfect fit for the Gunners, he has the sixth most shot creating actions in the league (135) much higher than other Arsenal players with perhaps the exception of Bukayo Saka (117) who missed large chunks of the season through injury.
Newcastle United plot new offer for Brazil international
Earlier this week, it was reported that Newcastle United had an offer in the region of £50m turned down by Brighton for Brazilian forward Joao Pedro.
Pedro is a player that Newcastle have been interested in for the best part of three years, with the Magpies also making a move for the forward during his time at Watford before eventually turning their attention to Alexander Isak.
Now after securing Champions League football, Newcastle are in the market for a deputy to Isak after allowing Callum Wilson to leave on a free transfer. The Magpies are understood to be huge fans of Pedro and are willing to try and reach a compromise transfer fee agreement with Brighton, according to talkSPORT.
It’s expected £60m could be sufficient to get a deal over the line although it’s believed the club are also exploring alternative options including Antony Elanga of Nottingham Forest.
The 3AM verdict: Newcastle United need to bolster their squad depth if they are to avoid a repeat of the 2023/24 season which saw the Magpies drop off due to an avalanche of injuries and the added fatigue of European football.
Squad depth is paramount if Newcastle are to cement their place as a European force and Pedro could prove a key player in helping them achieve that goal.
The 23-year-old is approaching his prime years, is versatile enough to play as a forward, right winger and central attacking midfielder, enabling tactical flexibility and has proven that he can score and create goals throughout his time at the Amex.
It’s a deal that definitely makes sense from a Newcastle perspective although a price tag of £60m, which would be the second most expensive in the club’s history does seem steep.