Recent reports indicate that Crystal Palace is now the frontrunner in the race to sign Eddie Nketiah. This comes after Nottingham Forest’s proposed deal for the Arsenal striker fell through due to issues with personal terms. Palace has stepped in and begun negotiations with a similar offer of £25m plus an additional £5m in add-ons. The club is looking to secure a deal before the transfer window deadline on Friday.
Nketiah, who was expected to join Forest after a fee agreement of £30 million last week, is now facing uncertainty about his future. Talks with Marseille had also broken down prior to Forest’s interest. Despite the speculation, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stated that Nketiah remains committed to the club and is happy to be part of the team.
Crystal Palace’s pursuit of Nketiah comes at a time when the club has money to spend following the departures of Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen. There is also the possibility of centre-back Marc Guéhi leaving, with Newcastle considering a substantial bid of around £70m. Palace is looking to strengthen their squad before the transfer window closes and sees Nketiah as a viable option.
Nketiah’s Background and Stats
Nketiah, who joined Arsenal at the age of 14, has made a significant impact at the club, scoring 38 goals in 168 appearances. His goal-scoring ability and talent have attracted interest from various clubs, with Palace now leading the race for his signature. As the transfer deadline approaches, it remains to be seen where Nketiah will end up and whether a deal will be finalized between Arsenal and Crystal Palace.