Arsenal could yet cash in on Eddie Nketiah this month.
That is according to journalist Charles Watts, who covers the Gunners for Goal.com.
But speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts claimed that Nketiah – who’s out of contract at Arsenal this summer – could be cashed in on during the winter window.
That is the direct opposite of what comes out of Mikel Arteta’s mouth.
On December 21, the Spaniard said: “I tell you every day that we want to keep Eddie. We see how he trains, that’s what he does every day, he works so hard and puts the ball in the net every session. I am really delighted with him. Every time we have needed him he has always responded.”
However, Watts claims that the Arsenal manager will indeed sell the 22-year-old – whom he labelled ‘phenomenal‘ – if it means losing him for free during the summer.
He said: “I think Arsenal wouldn’t really want it to happen, but given what’s happened with the contract, given the fact he’s repeatedly turned down offers from Arsenal to stay, if a really decent bid came in for Nketiah in January, then Arsenal might look to do that.”
Mixed
It’s good and bad news if Nketiah leaves Arsenal.
It’s a negative development because he’s a Hale End graduate and seeing one of your own being sold on the cheap isn’t necessarily what you want to see.
On the flip side, Arsenal might not have millions upon millions to spend this month without player sales.
And offloading the young hitman – valued at £20 million – could help Arteta and Edu bring in somebody else.
Let’s face it, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future in doubt and Alexandre Lacazette not being the most prolific goalscorer, the North Londoners do need a quality number nine.
And if money generated from Nketiah’s sale can help finance a quality number nine, well Arsenal fans’ tears over losing their academy product will dry up quickly.
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