Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah valuation raises issue of balance

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Joe Willock of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Eddie Nketiah after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Arsenal FC and Dundalk FC at Emirates Stadium on October 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Joe Willock of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Eddie Nketiah after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Arsenal FC and Dundalk FC at Emirates Stadium on October 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrate following their team’s second goal, an own goal by Sheriff Sinyan of Molde FK (not pictured) during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Arsenal FC and Molde FK. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

Joe Willock is Worth More Than £20m

You can’t sell Nketiah for £15m and then openly accept £20m for Joe Willock. There is no sense in this pair of valuations having just a £5m disparity.

Moving Willock on this window would be the right call if it’s at the right price. £20m isn’t that.

After a magnificent loan spell with Newcastle there has been some mention of Arsenal upping their asking price for the midfielder but still many suggest a £20m bid would tempt their hand. If Nketiah with one year left on his deal and with six months of uninspiring football behind him can garner such a fee then his teammate should be commanding double.

Selling may prove to be the toughest aspect of this entire window for Arsenal who know other clubs can prey on their weak selling position and need for finance more so than ever before. Seeing Marseille want to pay £7m for Matteo Guendouzi is evidence of that.

Whether there are Premier League clubs who can afford to fork out £25m-£30m for Willock is another matter. Very few will be able to come close to that. He is, however, worth more than his current valuation when factoring Nketiah’s position.

There is strong interest from Newcastle, one of the poorer sides in the top-flight. Their budget is minimal at best and if they can even scramble together £20m it’d be a surprise. It may be that Arsenal don’t receive anything over that amount, which prompts a serious decision.

Next. Arteta ruthlessness. dark

Yet if they can sell Nketiah for what is noted then there is no doubting of accepting a deal. There just needs to be a balance in what they are asking for their players.

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