Arsenal handed welcome transfer escape route

Crystal Palace Consider Fresh Nketiah Transfer Approach

The whole Nketiah saga wouldn’t even be under discussion had the striker and his representatives found middle ground with Crystal Palace over the summer.

A deal had been agreed between the clubs, only for personal terms to prove terminal in the move.

However, as per the Evening Standard, the Eagles are considering another approach for the 22-year-old with fellow centre-forward Jean-Philippe Mateta set to leave the club this window. The Frenchman has flopped since joining the club on an 18-month loan deal and his departure will free up another space in the attacking lineup.

It’s a move that you feel suits Nketiah better than Newcastle. Clearly not from the financial side of things, as a sporting project the work being done by Patrick Vieira is hugely encouraging for Palace’s long-term future and their preference to trust youth would favour Nketiah over the inevitable 18 months he spends at St James’ Park before Newcastle sign another more glamorous striker.

But, from the Arsenal point of view, can they really let Nketiah go?

Balogun is on his way out and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be near impossible to shift in the best of times, with his latest episode seeing him contract Covid while in Dubai partying with some of his teammates ahead of Gabon’s opening AFCON group stage match.

Selling Nketiah leaves only Alexandre Lacazette as a recognised No. 9, with the club then having to find a way to reintegrate the ostracised Aubameyang. If a club offers £5m or so for Nketiah, however, then can they really turn it down?

One injury to Lacazette and Arsenal will be in real trouble. Once again, it points to the market. But whoever the club sign has to be part of the long-term strategy, and indeed someone they would have moved for in the summer anyway.

Securing that player in January, as we know, is no mean feat.