EXCLUSIVE: Crystal Palace keen on Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah

Jacque Talbot

• 17 Dec 2023 14:30 CST
• 2 min read

Exclusive

West Ham and Crystal Palace have expressed keen interest in securing the services of Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah during the January transfer window. Sources close to the matter have told FootballTransfers of Palace's interest in the young forward, with the Hammers also wanting to sign the 24-year-old.

Nketiah, who has been with Arsenal since joining their youth academy in 2015, may face an increased competition for a starting spot in the first team, with his current side wanting to bring in an elite centre-forward for next year.

As previously revealed, Arsenal’s hunt for a striker in the January transfer window means that they need to sell to buy and they are now willing to listen to offers for Nketiah.

He has made 22 appearances in all competitions this term but only started 12 of those games.

In those games, he scored six goals and made one assist in those games, while last campaign, the Hale End graduate scored nine times in all competitions and was a reliable back-up option as Arsenal finished in second place behind Manchester City.

Who else are Arsenal likely to buy?

The Gunners 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 bolster their attacking department with a world class No.9. 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.