Liverpool want Arsenal star that Owen says has bags of ‘self-belief’ and ‘hunger’

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Liverpool are one of many clubs targeting Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah – a player Michael Owen was full of praise for in 2020, predicting him to be a “goal machine”. Nketiah, though, is now set to sign a new Arsenal deal.

Nketiah, 22, has been in flying form of late, finishing the season with Arsenal as first-choice striker and scoring five goals in a run of eight Premier League starts. But he has been reluctant to sign a new contract.

He had concerns regarding his game time. Out of contract at the end of June, though, 90Min say he has changed his mind and will now pen terms. That is despite interest from Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham and more.

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Speaking about Nketiah after he a brace for England’s U21 side in a 5-0 win over Albania in 2020, Owen raved about the striker. He likes his movement, hunger, self-belief and thought Nketiah would become a “goal machine”.

“He’s got a real smell for it, hasn’t he? He knows where the ball’s going to drop. I like his movement. I like his hunger to score goals. If you’ve just got pure self-belief, it just shrugs off you and you’re just onto the next one.

“With that type of attitude, with the way he plays, he’s just going to be a goal machine all his career. The key for him is trying to get consistently into that Arsenal team, then all his horizons are open,” Owen said, as per the Metro.

Owen praise of Liverpool target Nketiah: Reds move is sideways

While Nketiah would be challenging at the top of the table and for numerous titles every season, he would be moving sideways in terms of his career. Nketiah has been tempted to leave Arsenal due to his game time.

At Liverpool, he would only replace Divock Origi. He would be behind Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane in terms of the pecking order of strikers. He needs to join a club where he is first choice, this summer.