Marseille 'annoyed' by Arsenal in Nketiah transfer talks

4 Aug 2024 15:30 BST
3 min read

Eddie Nketiah, Arsenal, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Marseille have not given up hope of signing Eddie Nketiah this summer however Arsenal’s stance during the transfer saga has reportedly proven to be ‘annoying’.

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The Ligue 1 side have agreed personal terms with Nketiah and thought they were close to striking a deal to sign the England international, however Arsenal are understood to have rejected as many as three offers for the striker.

Arsenal are believed to be holding out for around €35 million, however Marseille’s latest offer of €27m was turned down, leading to the French side pursuing a deal for Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko.

Moukoko announced his intention to leave Dortmund this summer and the 19-year-old’s priority is to join Marseille, who want the youngster on loan with an option to buy.

However, according to L’Equipe, Marseille have not ‘abandoned’ their chase for Nketiah but the ‘changing position’ of Arsenal is ‘annoying’, with the Gunners yet to respond to the latest loan-to-buy offer from the French outfit.

Compared

VS

€14.3M	ETV	€17.9M
€10.7M - €17.9M	ETV Range	€13.4M - €22.3M
25 years old (30 May, 1999)	Age	19 years old (20 Nov, 2004)
England	Nationality	Germany

The report claims that the ‘poker game’ over Nketiah could still promise a few more ‘twists and turns’, with ‘no real negotiations’ having yet begun between Marseille and Dortmund over Moukoko.

© IMAGO - Marseille could move for Yousssoufa Moukoko if talks for Eddie Nketiah continue to stall.

What is Arsenal’s position in Nketiah transfer talks?

Nketiah will be allowed to leave Arsenal this summer for the right price, having failed to prove his credentials as a starting striker under Mikel Arteta last season.

The 25-year-old only started ten Premier League games last season, scoring five times, and there is an acceptance that Nketiah will still be behind the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in the pecking order up front.

With three years remaining on his contract, Arsenal are under no pressure to sell Nketiah and would be content at keeping their academy graduate as a squad option for the coming season.

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal take interest in Joao Pedro as Eddie Nketiah exit nears

However, as FootballTransfers exclusively revealed, Arsenal are considering Brighton’s Joao Pedro as a replacement for Nketiah and the Gunners would benefit greatly from the windfall his sale would provide.

Arsenal already sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham this week in a move which allowed them room to manoeuvre in the market, with a deal for Mikel Merino expected to be sealed in the coming days.