Crystal Palace informed Arsenal about their decision on £40 million attacker with five premier league goals this season
Crystal Palace will not pay the £40 million Arsenal paid for Eddie Nketiah, despite the Eagles looking for a new striker.
Alex Crook of Give Me Sport claims that Crystal Palace need a new striker but will not pay the £40 million Arsenal paid for Eddie Nketiah. The Canaries are ready to sell their academy member if their price is reached.
Crystal Palace will not pay £40m for Eddie Nketiah
Crystal Palace are looking for a striker and have been doing so since last summer. The Eagles want to strengthen the central midfield role as both current star players cannot produce what is required of them.
There are a few options on their shortlist, but they are very keen on Eddie Nketiah. Arsenal are asking £40-50 million for a player from their academy, but it is doubtful that they are too keen to sell.
The Canaries could sell if they find a replacement and acknowledge Palace’s interest. The Eagles may have received Arsenal’s ‘no’ in the process. Nevertheless, the London side are optimistic about taking the English international. However, Alex Crook believes they will not pay the £40m asking price.
Crook said: “Yes, definitely the striker. They are missing a striker, but they have been missing a striker for a long time. The interest in Eddie Nketiah is real, but will they pay £40 million? I don’t think so.”
“He also has a huge salary. I think at the moment, if they don’t get a number nine, Arsenal won’t accept any offer anyway. Ronnie Edwards, I think they had up to three bids throughout the summer window and they went into that window rejected.”
“So they are definitely most keen on him. But I think there are half a dozen Premier League clubs sniffing at him right now. The feeling is that he is more likely to stay in that window than leave.”
Can Arsenal sell Eddie Nketiah?
Arsenal desperately need a new striker. But with FFP rules up in the air after another big summer spending spree, it may not be able to afford another big fee for a new striker. So the Gunners will want to sell before they buy, with some of their domestic stars firmly on the transfer list.
Nketiah could be the one to go, but only if the Gunners lower their price. With Palace unlikely to pay £40 million, the chances of Arsenal getting that much are slim, according to Crook. Nevertheless, they still have a whole window to consider their decision. Crystal Palace may yet come back to the table with an offer that will force the Gunners to reconsider their decision on the £40 million striker.
