EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal to sacrifice Nketiah for elite striker in January transfer window
Steve Kay
- Updated: 4 Dec 2023 22:20 GMT
- 3 min read
Exclusive
Arsenal’s hunt for an elite striker in the January transfer window means that they need to sell to buy, with the club willing to listen to offers for Eddie Nketiah, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.
We are told that the North London club are on the borderline of Financial Fair Play and so Mikel Arteta has agreed that the academy graduate could be one that they sacrifice in order to sign their targets, each of whom is likely to cost a substantial fee.
The 24-year-old, who has previously disclosed how close he was to leaving the club, could be moved on so Arsenal can sign a prolific replacement. Benjamen Sesko, Dusan Vlahovic, and Ivan Toney are just three names that have been mentioned internally. Of this trio, FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that Vlahovic is their main target.
If the Gunners want to land any of those players - or someone else - then it’s thought that Nketiah will need to make way.
The England international, who has spent nine years at the club after arriving from Chelsea's youth team in 2015, had only recently signed a contract extension to commit his long-term future to the Gunners.
However, things haven't gone according to plan as not only is Arteta seemingly still looking for a new main striker, but the Gunners boss has also overlooked Nketiah for the backup striker option by playing Leandro Trossard and new signing, Kai Havertz, ahead of him at times this season.
Arsenal are hopeful of landing their first Premier League title since the 2003/4 'Invincibles' season, and the New Year represents an ideal point to freshen up the squad once more.
Who else are Arsenal likely to sell?
We are told, too, that Karl Hein could be going out on loan, either in January or at the end of the season. Arsenal are looking at bringing in a goalkeeper with experience if Aaron Ramsdale was to leave, with the England international in search of game-time.
Hein has only made one competitive appearance for Arsenal and he has also played a handful of mid-season friendlies under Arteta.
