Leicester City are the latest club to be linked with an interest in Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah ahead of the summer transfer window, with the academy graduate one of the players the club let go to help with Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSRs).
Several Premier League clubs are taking a look at the England international, football.london understands. Given that Arsenal are likely to be looking for a new striker in the summer transfer window – they’ve been linked with the likes of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres – Nketiah could be one to make way.
The fact that he is an academy graduate means that a sale would be considered as ‘pure profit’, which would be helpful in raising funds to comply with PSRs. Nketiah will still have three years remaining on his contract at the Emirates Stadium when the summer comes around, meaning that the club can get a decent amount for him.
That fee will rise more, the more clubs are interested. Crystal Palace and Brentford have been the most heavily linked, but Football Transfers now claim that Leicester will join the race if they are promoted at the end of the season.
Leicester have their own Profitability and Sustainability problems, having been charged with the Premier League for a breach. It means that, if promoted, they could possibly start next season on minus points.
The club also face prospects of potentially selling some of their bigger players to comply with the rules for the current season. However, Leicester could free up some money to potentially complete a deal for Nketiah with a decision over Jamie Vardy’s future.
The club legend is one of its highest-paid players, earning a reported £140,000 per week. He is out of contract in the summer, and if he leaves the club, or even takes a dramatic pay cut to remain, then Nketiah’s wages reportedly ‘won’t be a problem’ for Leicester.
Nketiah is reported to be leaning towards a move to Brentford if given the choice between them and Palace, but Leicester’s interest could potentially throw a spanner in the works.
