When people bring up the argument of ‘English Tax’, this is probably the sort of thing they are referring to.
And, Ok, he might have only earned one cap so far for the Three Lions but the point still stands. In an era where homegrown players are more valuable than ever due to the tight restrictions placed on clubs by Financial Fair Play, we are living in a world where Arsenal feel emboldened enough to demand £50 million for Eddie Nketiah.
The very same Eddie Nketiah who started only 10 Premier League games last season. The Nketiah who has just 19 top-flight goals from 116 appearances.
In his defence, the 25-year-old’s goal-per-game record remains pretty impressive. You only have to change ‘appearances’ to ‘starts’, and suddenly the Arsenal academy graduate’s record looks a lot better.
19 goals in 38 if you only count the games in which he began them on the team sheet.
But, still, Simon Jordan has seen little to suggest that Nketiah – who he previously labelled a ‘mid-table’ player – is even worth £30 million.
Let alone the £50 million it may take to convince Arsenal to cash in.
“Ultimately if you want to get £40million, you’re better off asking for £50million. But is he worth £50million? You’ve got to be joking haven’t you?,” the former Crystal Palace chairman scoffs, speaking on talkSPORT.
“There’s one thing paying for old rope but you’re stretching a bit far. He’s not a £50 million footballer. I mean, he’s lucky to be a £30 million footballer and on £100,000-a-week!”
HITC understands that London neighbours West Ham United, Fulham and Crystal Palace are all admirers of Nketiah. Maybe only West Ham would be in a position to pay anything near the sort of fee Arsenal want, however.
Though Crystal Palace will have funds in the bank once Michael Olise completes his move to German giants Bayern Munich.
Jordan, meanwhile, does not think that just because Manchester City spent £100 million on Jack Grealish, that should also inflate Nketiah’s value. Grealish, lest we forget, was the captain and talisman of Aston Villa before moving to the Etihad.
Nketiah, in contrast, has fallen behind first Gabriel Jesus and then Kai Havertz in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order.
West Ham and Crystal Palace like the Gunners striker
“I think comparing Grealish to Eddie Nketiah is probably a false paradise because do we question the validity of Pep Guardiola’s thinking?,” Jordan adds.
“We’ve got a unique manager who has produced a unique side that’s dominating English football. He thinks Jack Grealish is worth the money.
“Whereas I think most objective observers would suggest that he (Nketiah) is not worth £50 million.”
If there is anyone willing – or, Jordan would argue, foolish – enough to stump up such a sum, that would go a long way to raising funds for Arsenal to bring in a top-level number nine to take Nketiah’s place.
HITC reports that there is interest in Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic and Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon, to name but three.
Benjamin Sesko, meanwhile, was understood to favour a move to the Emirates over any of The Gunners’ Premier League rivals. The Slovenian has since signed a new long-term contract, however, at RB Leipzig.
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