Arsenal offer Eddie Nketiah shock contract extension

With the summer transfer window officially open there aren’t many certainties of what may happen at Arsenal. Knowing who may arrive, who may leave and at what price is difficult to nail down with speculation rife, but Eddie Nketiah departing felt like one of few debatable points.

Having wrestled his way into first team action towards the back end of the 2019/20 season, Nketiah looked like becoming a regular face among the senior group. Alexandre Lacazette had to take a backseat in the final part of Mikel Arteta’s first season, and while still rough around the edges, Nketiah had shown signs of progress.

Those chances continued into the previous campaign. Featuring in some capacity in 12 of the opening 14 Premier League matches of the season it was clear there was some trust in the striker from his manager, the like that wasn’t truly pounced upon.

The 22-year-old would play just 104 minutes across five league appearances from matchday 14, losing his place in the team and squad. A loan in January would have made sense, but a fearful Arteta did not want to risk the chance of injuries to Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hamstringing the side. When such an occasion arose he fielded Emile Smith Rowe as a false nine instead.

Arsenal offer Eddie Nketiah shock contract extension as Mikel Arteta prepares for squad overhaul in summer transfer window

Thus, amid a summer of uncertainty, Nketiah’s future appeared like one of few nailed on eventualities.

However, in a bizarre twist, The Athletic report that Arsenal have offered the striker a new deal. After seeing Joe Willock flourish while away on loan with Newcastle, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles doing okay away with West Brom, the plan is to protect Nketiah’s value and grant the Gunners some ‘flexibility’.

It’s an interesting ploy.

With interest in Nketiah from the Premier League and abroad, signing him down to another deal – likely a two-year extension – before sending him out on loan for a season will only boost his price so much. No doubt a campaign of regular football will do the player and his value good, but in terms of an asking price there won’t be drastic evolution unless he mimics Willock’s sensational scoring rates. His critics will argue that’s unlikely to happen.

Knowing that the club need to sell to buy, and with Nketiah arguably able to fetch around £15m, selling now, especially with Folarin Balogun signing a new deal and primed for his chance whenever it comes, is peculiar.

Nonetheless, Nketiah still has to accept it and it’s unlikely he’ll choose to do so. He doesn’t have a future at Arsenal with those in front of him in the pecking order and in his mind it will be a case of delaying the inevitable. Refuse the deal and he will be sold.

You can understand the club’s wish to increase the value of their asset, but is sorting out a new deal before then sorting out a loan not more troublesome than merely selling him now?