Newcastle United made a move to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah before the transfer deadline – but the Gunners rejected their approach.
That’s according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, who claims that both Newcastle and Crystal Palace made moves for Nketiah.
However, Arsenal turned down those moves and decided to keep Nketiah at the Emirates Stadium beyond Monday’s deadline.
Nketiah is now able to go and sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club given that he is inside the final six months of his deal.
Arsenal may have been tempted to take the cash for Nketiah whilst they still can, but they were almost backed into a corner.
The Gunners agreed to loan young striker Folarin Balogun to Middlesbrough in January, whilst Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has moved to Barcelona.
Two strikers down, Arsenal were trying to get a new hitman snapped up in January but just couldn’t make it happen.
Arsenal simply couldn’t afford to let Nketiah leave before Monday’s deadline, as Alexandre Lacazette would have been left as their only recognised striker.
With Mikel Arteta chasing a top four finish, that would have been a disastrous situation for Arsenal.
The current situation isn’t exactly great. Arsenal’s two senior strikers now are Lacazette and Nketiah, and both are out of contract this summer.
That’s a lack of depth, a lack of longevity and arguably a lack of planning given that Arsenal may now need to bring in two or even three strikers this summer.
Nketiah may though see this as an opportunity to try and impress in the final stages of the season and earn himself a big move.
Newcastle will surely keep tabs on Nketiah’s situation between now and the end of the season, with compensation no issue if they stay up.
Callum Wilson, Chris Wood and Nketiah as Newcastle’s strikers moving forward would be strong depth, so you can understand their interest in the Arsenal man.
Praised as ‘lively’ by Mikel Arteta, Nketiah knows the next few months could decide the trajectory of his career – and there is likely to be even more interest come the end of the season.
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