Eddie Nketiah has three years left on his Arsenal contract (Photo: Getty)
Arsenal look set to lose Eddie Nketiah this summer with the striker reportedly keen to join Olympique Marseille.
Nketiah has been a regular for Mikel Arteta over the past two seasons, but the majority of his appearances have been off the bench, starting just 10 Premier League games in the last campaign.
Moreover, while he’s shown flashes of brilliance, the 25-year-old’s stats don’t make for great reading, with just five league goals last season and none after bagging a hattrick against Sheffield United last October.
With the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus ahead in the pecking order and with Arsenal looking to sign a new striker, it’s always seemed likely that Nketiah would depart the Emirates this transfer window.
It was reported a few weeks ago that Marseille were interested in the one-time England international and would make a move after completing the signing of Mason Greenwood from Manchester United.
That move has now been made, with Foot Mercato reporting that Nketiah has been sold on Marseille’s project and contract negotiations are going well between player and club.
Additionally, the Ligue 1 side, now managed by former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, have made an opening bid to Arsenal though its value is not yet known.
It remains to be seen how much the Gunners would accept for their academy graduate, who still has three years left on his contract and has been the subject of much interest from Premier League sides over the past year.
If Nketiah were to join the French club, he and Greenwood would effectively be replacing former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who left for Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah earlier in the window.
Marseille are being heavily active in the transfer market, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that are very close to signing Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The Denmark star made 39 appearances last season but, like Nketiah, found himself on the bench more often than not, starting just eight league games, withthe defensive midfielder clearly not in Ange Postecoglou’s long-term plans.
The 28-year-old has already agreed personal terms with Marseille and Spurs finalising the deal.