Arsenal makes striker decision as Mikel Arteta prepares for spending £78 million on January transfer window
Arsenal are preparing to part ways with striker Eddie Nketiah next year, sources have told Football Insider.
The Gunners are aware that they will need to sell players in order to make major signings in 2024, and the 24-year-old has been identified as an asset that Mikel Arteta could sell.
Nketiah is likely to stay at the club until the end of the 2023-24 season, but an informed source told Football Insider that a January move cannot be ruled out if Arsenal get the right offer.
A potential departure would also be dependent on the Gunners signing a top striker during the winter window, which is a priority for Arteta and his recruitment team.
It will also be necessary to raise money to sign Aston Villa star and Arsenal’s top target Douglas Luiz – Football Insider revealed on December 18 that the Midlands giants will demand around £100 million for Luiz’s signature.
Nketiah’s status as a homegrown player means that the consideration for any sale will be considered a net gain under Financial Fair Play rules.
The England international, who made his debut for the Three Lions against Australia in September, currently plays second fiddle to Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal.
In the 2023-24 season, he made 23 appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals and providing four assists.
Nketiah has played 154 times for Arsenal since his first-team debut in September 2017, scoring 38 goals.
The striker is under contract at the Emirates Stadium until June 2027 after signing a new extension last season (2022).
Arsenal are top of the Premier League ahead of Saturday’s (December 23) meeting with second-placed Liverpool.
