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European side want to sign ‘unbelievable’ £50m Arsenal player on loan with view to permanent transfer

Lucas Arnold

Mon 22 July 2024 7:35, UK

Amid Edu’s efforts to move several Arsenal players on this summer, a European side is now interested in taking one of the club’s forwards on loan.

Mikel Arteta knows that the club plan to sell before they buy this summer, even if Arsenal will make an exception for Riccardo Calafiori.

Calafiori is expected to undergo a medical this week and looks set to become Arsenal’s first significant senior addition this summer – not counting the permanent arrival of David Raya.

But to conduct deals beyond the Italian’s arrival, Edu will need to secure departures for several players who aren’t currently helping Arteta’s first team efforts.

Unfortunately from an Arsenal supporter perspective, a lot of the players in that position right now are the club’s Hale End graduates.

Bukayo Saka seems to be the only exception in that regard, as otherwise all of Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson seem to be available for the right price.

Arsenal are willing to sell Nelson for £20m this summer according to reports, but it remains to be seen how much the likes of Nketiah or Smith Rowe will cost.

Marseille set to make loan bid for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah

Marseille have made signing Nketiah their main priority this summer – a striker who has slumped to third choice at the Emirates.

And whilst he’s not getting sufficient game time in north London, the club will be fully aware of his ability and value.

That being said, according to French source , Marseille are now preparing an offer for £50m-rated Nketiah.

And according to the report mentioned it will be an initial loan bid with a mandatory purchase option included for the ‘unbelievable’ striker.

Marseille consider that Nketiah is too ‘expensive’ to pay the fee outright, and in a summer in which they are also signing the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, a loan would be better for their books.

The report admits that it remains to be seen if that payment structure would suit Arsenal, who will need to be mindful of their own PSR situation.

In that regard, the club are likely attempting to raise funds as Arteta wants to bring Nico Williams to Arsenal.

A lot of moving pieces for the club to consider, but a bloated squad won’t do Arsenal any favours, who are sensible to be conducting something akin to a one in, one out policy.

All that being said, one Arsenal midfielder may have now played his last minutes for the club.