Why Tottenham's record-signing could help Arsenal sell Eddie Nketiah this summer

You can never rely on the old enemy for a favour, but let's not dig up the tired old narratives that surrounded Tottenham's clash with Manchester City in April.

Spurs, to their credit, gave it a good go and may well have won Arsenal the Premier League title hadn't Stefan Ortega made the clutchest of saves at the last to deny Son Heung-min.

Now, the situation I'm we're about to discuss pales in comparison to a potential Premier League title, but Spurs may have nonetheless indirectly helped Arsenal sell a disposable asset in Eddie Nketiah.

Why Tottenham's record-signing could help Arsenal sell Eddie Nketiah this summer

Why? Well, Spurs' move for Dominic Solanke, the scorer of 19 Premier League goals last season, leaves Bournemouth needing a striker with three weeks of the summer window remaining.

The Cherries are reportedly in for Porto's Evanilson but have so far been unsuccessful in their efforts to prise him away. So, who could they turn to?

How about Mr Eddie Nketiah?

Arsenal are happy to let their third-choice striker go this summer and were even willing to sanction an initial loan deal to Marseille. However, the French club have pivoted to alternatives and are once again intent on signing Lens' Elye Wahi. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Nketiah's projected move to France has 'collapsed'.

We know that the Gunners want around £25m for Nketiah given what they were willing to accept from Marseille, and Bournemouth certainly aren't shy of cash having earned £55m from Solanke's sale before any potential add-ons. The Premier League club are ready to spend whatever necessary to mitigate such a crucial absence so close to the start of a new season.

While Bournemouth have so far targeted more exotic names like that of Porto's Evanilson, they could do much worse than signing Nketiah for less than half of what they sold Solanke for. The English striker has proved in spells that he's more than capable of leading a Premier League line. It was his form at the end of 2021/22 that convinced Arsenal to commit to Eddie for the long haul.

He's a fine Premier League-level forward, but not a level-raiser. The Cherries may fancy bringing another in alongside Nketiah to ensure Solanke's exit isn't devastating in 2024/25. Nevertheless, Nketiah, given his ability to hold the play up, poach in the box, and press willingly, could be a shrewd 'replacement' for Solanke on the south coast.

If interest does manifest and Bournemouth eventually pursue the Englishman, Arsenal have their fierce rivals from down the road to thank.

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