Marseille are plotting a move to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah on a permanent deal this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that new boss Roberto De Zerbi is looking to raid the Premier League for new signings, with Nketiah at the top of his list.
The 25-year-old has found himself on the fringes of Mikel Arteta’s squad, with both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz preferred as the main options up front.
As a result, sources say he will be allowed to leave the Emirates this summer, with the French outfit the latest to join the race for his signature as they prepare to submit an offer.
Football Insider reported in March that Wolves, Crystal Palace and Brentford are all keen on signing Nketiah in a “big” deal.
Marseille plotting bid to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah
Nketiah joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of 16 after he was released by Chelsea, and has gone on to make 168 appearances for the club, scoring 38 goals.
He featured 37 times for the Gunners last season, but 24 of those appearances came from the bench as he played a bit-part role in the team that finished second.
Arteta is now looking to strengthen his squad to take the team one step further than the consecutive second-placed finishes they have recorded.
This comes after Football Insider revealed that Arsenal are already working on signing a replacement for the striker which would push him even further down the pecking order.
There has been long-standing interest from Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman, but the club have been put off by his price tag in previous windows.
Now, it seems Arsenal are prepared to drop their asking price which could allow Marseille to swoop ahead of Premier League sides.
In other news, Arsenal are readying a second bid to sign Dan Bentley.
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