Crystal Palace ‘One to Watch’ in Race for Eddie Nketiah
In the lead up to the summer transfer window, Crystal Palace are keen on landing Eddie Nketiah as their new striker.
Crystal Palace were linked with Arsenal centre forward Eddie Nketiah in January and could reignite their interest in the lead-up to the summer transfer window and now, respected journalist Ben Jacobs has told GIVEMESPORT that his Emirates Stadium departure could rely on one factor.
Even though Arteta and his entourage are not blessed with reliable options through the middle, the Englishman is evidently far down in the club’s pecking order, with Kai Havertz recently being the club’s preferred choice.
Having amassed a mere 1,360 minutes of action across all competitions this campaign, Nketiah’s future in north London is looking bleak, especially with his employers in the market for a new striker.
Arsenal Standing Firm on Nketiah Price Tag
Interest in Nketiah stems from the January transfer window. The London-born ace was subject to interest from Palace, but Arteta was keen to retain his services amid the Gunners’ pursuit of the Premier League title, with the striker being considered an ‘important player’.
Since the mid-season window slammed shut, however, Nketiah has enjoyed just 58 minutes of league action and endured a 15-minute cameo against Porto in the Champions League. Amid his lack of game time, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed that an array of clubs in England’s top division are keeping tabs on the 24-year-old amid uncertainty over his future in north London.
Arsenal themselves, as mentioned, are looking to bolster their centre forward ranks in the summer, too, which may leave Nketiah out in the cold. Offloading the likes of the Englishman will generate funds to bring in a new frontman, all while adhering to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability (PSR) regulations.
In terms of an asking price for Nketiah, Jacobs recently told GIVEMESPORT that Arsenal would hold out for a fee around the £30 million mark. And while, in the grand scheme of the market, that is not deemed as a significant outlay, it will be for those in the bottom half of the Premier League standings – Palace included.
Jacobs – Palace Could Reignite January Interest in Nketiah
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs suggested that Arsenal signing a new striker would allow a much smoother sale of Nketiah, despite him being very committed and a valued member of Arteta’s roster from now until the end of their title-chasing campaign.
Jacobs revealed that Oliver Glasner’s Palace are among the interested parties and that their January interest may rise to the surface upon the opening of the summer transfer window. The journalist also name-dropped Wolverhampton Wanderers as another club in the top flight who are keeping tabs on the out-of-favour striker and suggested that the sales of Pedro Neto and Joao Gomes could free up sufficient funds and space for someone of Nketiah’s ilk. Jacobs said:
Crystal Palace Now ‘Confident’ of Landing Ben Johnson
While Glasner and Co. are eager to add more firepower to their front line in the summer, they are also looking to enhance their defensive ranks. Currently sitting in 14th place having conceded 49 goals in the Premier League thus far, targeting the likes of West Ham United’s Ben Johnson could be shrewd from the capital club’s perspective.
