Arsenal facing interest from Watford in Hale End stars

Despite a frantic summer transfer window in terms of rumours, Arsenal are yet to officially confirm any signings or departures of first team stars as Mikel Arteta looks to trim his squad and inject some much-needed quality.

Will it be like London buses? Can supporters expect a domino effect to take place at some stage with one exit followed by a string of others?

It doesn’t really matter when sales take place as long as they happen before the transfer window slams shut in August, as the ends will justify the means if it doesn’t hinder what Arteta can do in terms of arrivals and the money desired is secured.

Of course, the sooner the better in every case and if Arsenal can offload two player simultaneously that will satisfy the club. Even swap deals have been mooted and makeweights that would kill two birds with one stone have been floated around.

https://twitter.com/EddieNketiah9/status/1401614436574584835

Arsenal facing interest from Watford in Hale End stars Eddie Nketiah and Ainsley Maitland-Niles alongside fellow Premier League clubs

And with a large contingent of Hale End stars set to bid farewell to north London, the interest is unsurprisingly strong. Eddie Nketiah is among those set to leave and he’s joined by Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has no interest in playing right-back for Arsenal which is the only way he will have a chance of extending his Gunners’ future.

Both are attracting admiring glances from Premier League clubs, with Watford a common denominator in there.

As per Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, the newly-promoted side are monitoring developments on the pair and contact has been made to suss out each players’ situation.

With Folarin Balogun penning a new deal there is no longer a place for Nketiah in the side, this despite Arsenal offering to hand the 22-year-old a new contract this summer. It’s with a view to protecting his value but that should have been protected in January when there was interest in him (by selling him) and having no played for six months Nketiah should not, and will not, entertain that offer.

Bayer Leverkusen, Crystal Palace and West Ham are keeping tabs but Watford would likely offer him more certain Premier League minutes – even with the capture of Emmanuel Dennis who plays across the forward line – and with the Gunners’ training ground separated from their top-flight rivals’ by just a hedge, it would be a comfortable move for him.

The same applies to Maitland-Niles, who continues to interest Southampton, although it will be the promise of playing in midfield that will sway him.

Supporters wish both players well and a balance between where each star sees their futures and who can offer the money Arsenal are after is what will likely see neither move too quickly. If Arsenal can raise £30-£35m between the pair, which is wishful but not out of the question if it’s Premier League sides making the bidding, it’s one of the easier decisions to make all summer.