Arsenal are closing in on a major transfer-related triumph over Tottenham Hotspur as Eberechi Eze’s transfer to the Emirates Stadium draws ever closer.
On Wednesday evening, David Ornstein dropped the big bombshell by reporting that Arsenal had made their move for Eze, who Spurs felt they were close to signing.
Since then, things have picked up pace, to the point that the Gunners are now reported to have struck a deal with Crystal Palace over Eze.
Fabrizio Romano has declared “here we go” on Eze to Arsenal, while Ornstein has reported how much the Gunners are set to pay for Eze, along with a big concession made to Palace.
Arsenal set to pay around £68million for Eberechi Eze
First up, Ornstein reported that Arsenal have reached an agreement with Palace to sign Eze for around £68million.
The fee is in the region of Eze’s now-expired release clause, and it matches what Tottenham were ready to pay for the England international.
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In addition, Arsenal’s concession to Palace is in the form of letting him play for Palace in their Europa Conference League play-off meeting against Fredrikstad on Thursday.
Ornstein previously said Palace had not finalised a deal with Tottenham because of this, while Arsenal ‘indicated a willingness to meet the conditions’.
Later on in the hour, Romano declared “here we go” on Eze to Arsenal, with a “verbal agreement in place between all parties”.
Romano said the package would be worth “in excess of £60million” and reiterated that Eze preferred the Gunners over Spurs.
“Arsenal win race over Tottenham, been in advanced talks for days but never sealed,” concluded Romano, to the delight of everyone connected with the Gunners.
Eberechi Eze has already declared his love for Arsenal
Back in 2018, Eze revealed in an interview with Alessandro Morolli-Schiavone that Arsenal were his favourite team.
“I just supported them from [a] young [age], the way they play… I played with them when I was younger as well,” said the now Arsenal-bound star.
Eze, then at QPR, added: “When I was younger, I used to love Thierry Henry, and that’s sort of why I decided to sign there [as a youth player].”
“Obviously to play for the club you support, that’s what I wanted to do… I’ve grown a love for the team.”