Representatives of Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah have travelled to France to negotiate a potential transfer to Olympique Marseille.
Nketiah, one of several players Arsenal have listed for sale this summer, could follow Emile Smith Rowe out of the Emirates Stadium, as the club aims to generate funds for their own transfer targets.
Nketiah has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including West Ham United, Crystal Palace, and Everton. However, recent discussions have centred around a move to Marseille, who are having a busy summer under new manager Roberto de Zerbi.
Marseille, who have already secured high-profile signings like Mason Greenwood from Manchester United and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Tottenham Hotspur, are keen to add Nketiah to their squad. De Zerbi, known for his tenure at Brighton, is reportedly a fan of the 25-year-old striker.
Negotiations between Marseille and Arsenal have been ongoing, with the French club initially frustrated by Arsenal’s shifting demands for Nketiah’s transfer.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have now agreed to lower their valuation, bringing the deal back on track.
“From what I know, Arsenal is open to re-discussing terms with Marseille after initially rejecting a €27 million bid and asking for €35 million, plus a sell-on clause,” Romano said.
“Now they can be open to discussing and negotiating a different structure. The precise asking price is not clear yet, but the two clubs have been in touch again, and Arsenal can be open to discuss terms with OM. Nketiah had already agreed on personal terms, so no issue there, and it’s now on the clubs to reach an agreement.”
A recent report from TEAMtalk suggests that Nketiah’s agents are currently in France, engaging in face-to-face discussions with Marseille officials to finalise the move. The current proposal is for Nketiah to join Marseille on loan, with an option to buy next summer for around €30 million (£25.7m).
This potential transfer would provide Arsenal with additional funds to invest in new players next summer. While Arsenal initially sought to secure £25 million for Nketiah in a direct sale, Marseille are seeking more time to gather the necessary funds for a permanent deal.
