Shock Eddie Nketiah Arsenal move to Newcastle nears climax

What are Arsenal doing? What is the plan? Where do they go from here? These are just some of the questions being banded around supporters who are, it’s fair to say, getting slightly nervous.

Nobody has come through the door yet, and when the oracle of Arsenal transfer news, David Ornstein, claims that “nobody is close to being acquired before the deadline”, then fear begins to sink in.

However, if indeed Arsenal do sell Eddie Nketiah this window, for whatever pittance it may be, then they will sign a striker. You can hang your hat on that.

It was reported by the Telegraph that Newcastle were the most likely candidates to sign the striker this month as he enters the final few months of his contract. Eddie Howe was keen to bring in a young striker to complement his current options, and a deal has been worked on in the background all month.

Shock Eddie Nketiah Arsenal exit to Newcastle edges closer with discussions still under way for Eddie Howe to sign striker before January deadline

But then the news of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang closing in on a loan to Barcelona emerged, and with nobody close to joining Arsenal, it would be the most irresponsible move in the Gunners’ history to leave themselves with one unfit striker to see out the campaign.

And having rejected a second bid from Crystal Palace for Nketiah, it appeared as if a line would eb drawn under that transfer. However, either someone hasn’t informed Newcastle yet that Arsenal aren’t selling, or they have good reason to believe a deal can be struck.

As per the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, The Magpies are still ‘working hard’ on sealing two more deals, one of which is Matt Targett, who is said to be a tough deal to pull off. As for Nketiah, they’re not giving up.

CBSSports’ Ben Jacobs also lists the move as ‘very possible’, which makes this deal very much alive, with Arsenal having clearly offered Howe’s side something to nibble on. If the Gunners were certain not to sign a replacement this window then they would be putting a lid on any interest in Nketiah. They evidently aren’t, though, in which case something must be brewing.

Either this goes ahead or Arsenal tell inform Newcastle that their efforts are futile. It’s nearing its climax.

At the moment Nketiah has been seen enjoying himself with his teammates in Dubai for warm weather training with Lacazette, the only two senior strikers at the club. And they’re both out of contract in the summer. What a remarkable situation this is.

Although many would use slightly stronger language than ‘remarkable’, one would imagine.