Eddie Nketiah is likely to follow Alexandre Lacazette and stay at Arsenal during the January transfer window before leaving the Emirates as a free agent, according to football.london.
The Gunners risk losing both at the end of the season after allowing their contracts to enter the final nine-months. Lacazette penned a five-year deal upon his arrival from Lyon in 2017 for a former club-record £46.5m. But can agree pre-contracts with foreign sides in January.
Nketiah, meanwhile, last extended his terms in north London in December 2017 following his senior debut under Arsene Wenger. Arsenal have offered the 22-year-old a new deal this year, but he has not agreed to terms and is unlikely to commit his future to the club.
Mikel Arteta has been tight-fisted with game time for Nketiah at Arsenal so far this season. The Spaniard has only unleashed the forward for 83-minutes across all competitions, with one appearance in the Carabao Cup. He is yet to feature in the Premier League this term.
Nketiah scored on his only outing of the campaign against Wimbledon to hand Arsenal a three-goal lead in the 80th-minute. But netting against League One opposition has not seen Arteta name the £45k-a-week frontman in any of his top-flight squads.
Arsenal would be due compensation for Nketiah, unlike Lacazette, if the England U21 star does leave as a free agent. Per talkSPORT, the Gunners would receive £8m in compensation for his development, having wanted £20m to sell him this summer.
Why did Arsenal not sell Nketiah in summer transfer window?
Arsenal failed to find any suitor willing to pay £20m for Nketiah during the summer transfer window. Crystal Palace showed a keen interest late in the market, but various terms meant a move to Selhurst Park collapsed.
Reports by The Sun claimed Arsenal insisted on a sell-on or buyback clause, which put off Nketiah’s suitors. The Athletic also noted Crystal Palace only wanted to pay around £10m, before turning to Odsonne Edouard. While ESPN suggested Nketiah’s agent complicated a transfer from north to south London, despite Arsenal and Palace coming close to a deal.
Arsenal will now rue their summer failings if Nketiah follows Lacazette in waiting until the summer to leave unattached. Letting a talent Arteta claimed, via the Mirror last year, has an ‘incredible’ maturity and personality out the door cheaply.
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