EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal striker Nketiah agrees Marseille pay cut as deal edges near

Steve Kay

• Updated: 9 Aug 2024 13:11 BST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Eddie Nketiah is edging closer to a move to Marseille, with sources revealing that he has agreed to take a significant wage cut from his current £100k per week at Arsenal, FootballTransfers can reveal.

The deal is expected to start with a loan, followed by a mandatory purchase obligation. Arsenal are keen to finalise the transfer as quickly as possible so they can bring in a replacement within the next couple of weeks, we are told.

Despite rejecting three bids from Marseille as they haven't yet met Arsenal's £30 million valuation, the transfer is now progressing.

Nketiah, who joined Arsenal’s academy from Chelsea in 2015, started the 2023-2024 season strongly, scoring in the opening weekend victory against Nottingham Forest. However, he has struggled to secure a regular spot in the team since then.

Nketiah's departure is reminiscent of Emile Smith Rowe's move to Fulham—both homegrown talents leaving in search of more consistent playing time.

Current ETV

Eddie Nketiah

F (CL), AM (L)

Arsenal

Eddie Nketiah

F (CL), AM (L)

Arsenal

€14.4M

ETV Range

€10.8M - €18M

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While losing a homegrown player is tough for the club and its fans, we are told that Nketiah is excited about the move to France, which he sees as an opportunity to revive his career.

From Arsenal's perspective, the sale of two homegrown players, Nketiah and Smith Rowe, will generate pure profit, which positively impacts their PSR and FFP situations. The club is now focused on finding a replacement for Nketiah, likely targeting a player under £55 million.

Arsenal's striker targets

While Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres remains an option, Arsenal is unwilling to meet his £86 million release clause. Joao Pedro is also on their radar, as we previously reported, but his price could be prohibitive, despite his suitability for Arsenal's style, which mirrors Brighton's.

A winger seems to be a more likely acquisition, with Pedro Neto and Eberechi Eze emerging as the primary candidates. Edu, Arsenal's sporting director, has been a longtime admirer of Pedro, and Arsenal's strong relationship with Brighton could play a role in any potential negotiations.