Arsenal plot Eberechi Eze transfer talks as Gunners confident of securing deal
Arsenal plan to make direct contact with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish as they ramp up their pursuit of Eberechi Eze. The Gunners have already held talks with Eze's representatives after being alerted to his £67.5million release clause.
The England international could become Arsenal's fourth signing of the summer transfer window, having already welcomed Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, the latter of whom was announced on Thursday in a £12million deal.
That takes the Gunners' summer spending to £77m but they aren't done yet. Emirates chiefs remain in talks with Sporting Lisbon and Chelsea over moves for Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke respectively.
Now the Guardian report that Arsenal are preparing to hold talks with Parish, who's unlikely to consider offers for Eze, 27, below his release clause. The Gunners released the midfielder aged 13 before he come through the ranks at Queens Park Rangers.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are said to be confident that academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri will sign a new long-term deal amid interest from Chelsea and clubs in Germany. The 18-year-old's current contract expires next summer but Mikel Arteta and Co. want to keep hold of him.
Nwaneri could find game time hard to come by next season if Eze and Madueke are signed. But Arteta is keen to reshape his attack, with Gyokeres expected to lead the line if Arsenal can thrash out a deal with Sporting after weeks of negotiations.
Parish admitted that he was 'astounded' by the lack of interest in Eze last summer. "I was astounded. Genuinely astounded," the Palace chief told Sky Sports. "I mean, the guy's just an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person."
Tottenham have also been linked with Eze, who scored the winning goal in May's FA Cup final. Former Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy believes that the Palace star would a 'game changer' for Arsenal.
"There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that he's capable of playing for a bigger team, I'm talking Champions League level," Murphy said during an interview with Gooner News. "If you've got Eze in the squad, he's going to make you stronger because he's so talented and he can play in so many different positions.
"He's a game changer, he's got that wonderful ability not many players have. He's able to create some magic moments that win games without even playing well sometimes... In terms of his own ambition, I would imagine he wants to play the top level of football, which is the Champions League. It wouldn't surprise me to see him leave."
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