Arsenal: Shock contender for Reiss Nelson transfer emerges

The situation with Reiss Nelson remains fraught with uncertainty and expectation, as the Arsenal forward is left to see out the season training with the Under-23 squad.

Dabbling in the Europa League with minor success, at the time when Arsenal were at their weakest pre-Christmas, it was Reiss Nelson who was being tipped to come into the first team to provide the cutting edge in attack and technical ability in build-up play to reverse the torrid set of results.

His performances in Europe earned him just 70 minutes of Premier League action against Leeds and Wolves before a return to Steve Bould’s side followed, opening the door for a seemingly inevitable January departure.

No such move materialised for a host of different reasons, despite reported interest from the Bundesliga and even Unai Emery’s Villarreal.

Arsenal have shock contender for Reiss Nelson transfer emerge

Nelson is yet to win a single fixture with the Under-21 side in this season’s Premier League 2, which while not of his doing, will not have helped his case of fighting his way back into the senior fold.

Furthermore, interested clubs in England appear to have backed off his signature, with football.london revealing that shock contenders Olympiacos are eyeing his services on a season-long loan deal for the next campaign.

Interest from the Greek side is long-standing having been around since the beginning of the 2019/20 season, and talks will now take place with his representatives in the coming weeks to see what Arsenal have in mind as well as the player’s wishes.

On a contract running until 2023, it’s a make or break summer for Nelson. The Gunners could tie him down on another extension and loan him out in the same vein as they did with Konstantinos Mavropanos, or they could look to cash in on what is an undoubtedly talented 21-year-old who still has a bright future.

Letting him go on a simple loan this summer would make little sense, and does nothing to protect his value other than allowing him to play football. If there are buyers interested then a sale should be explored, otherwise, he needs a new contract and 12 months with a Premier League club.

Either he proves his worth and is reintegrated, or he plays well enough to encourage buyers in and around Europe. If he’s loaned, it has to be with a new deal attached.