- 22 hours ago
First major Arsenal exit taking shape as price set for homegrown star
Arsenal have set their price for Eddie Nketiah, according to a report.
The Gunners are in the market for a new striker. Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu want to add a reliable number nine this summer as Gabriel Jesus is regularly plagued by injuries.
For a time, Viktor Gyokeres was among the favourites to be signed due to his absolutely outrageous form production for Sporting CP. However, the Swede has a €100 million release clause and FootballTransfers was able to reveal that Arsenal have reconsidered their approach to the striker market in light of Kai Havertz's good form.
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The Gunners aren't looking to break the bank anymore and will instead target a cheaper option to allow them to use the funds saved to strengthen other areas as well. Benjamin Sesko is now considered the Gunners' top target, though it has recently been revealed that his release clause isn't fixed at €50 million but that it could yet rise to as high as €75m.
One thing is clear, if Arsenal sign a striker this summer, Eddie Nketiah will be sacrificed after already being a candidate to depart in January.
Nketiah's price tag
According to Ben Jacobs, Arsenal have now set a price for the 24-year-old. The journalist claims that the Gunners are ready to accept offers in the region of €40m this summer.
Crystal Palace are long-time admirers of the Hale End graduate, while Wolves and even newly-promoted Ipswich have also been credited with an interest. The latter, however, likely won't be able to afford him and it seems doubtful whether Arsenal would settle for just a loan given their desire to raise immediate funds with his exit.
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FootballTransfers understands that Brentford and Leicester City are also in the race to sign the striker. We have also been told that Fenerbahce will look at the striker should Edin Dzeko depart this summer.