Mikel Arteta comments on possible Arsenal deal of £40m striker, as player’s agent admit they’re ready to force transfer very ‘SOON’
Mikel Arteta remained tight-lipped when asked about the futures of Eddie Nketiah after Arsenal’s pre-season win over Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday night.
Nketiah has been a regular for Mikel Arteta over the past two seasons, but the majority of his appearances have been off the bench and he is a player that the club are open to letting go over the next few weeks.
Mikel Arteta has Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in his attack for next season – and there is much talk that the club will seek to add another forward to the attack by the end of the transfer window.
That has led to constant speculation in the media that Marseille have made an offer to the striker to make the move to Ligue 1 this summer and recent reports on Foot Mercato is reporting that Nketiah has been sold on Marseille’s project and contract negotiations are going well between player and club
He appeared off the bench at the Emirates Stadium against Leverkusen and when asked about the future of the striker – Arteta was tight-lipped over a potential deal: “We can’t talk about things like that,” Arteta said of Nketiah. “He played some minutes today.
“He is a player who gives us so much that we like him a lot. And at this moment there is nothing to discuss.”
Amid all the speculation and rumours – reporter Iomie Stanley has come out and told the striker that he should take the opportunity to make the move to Marseille and be the clubs number one striker – he told icfootballnews: “I’ve watched him at Arsenal over the seasons and he is a very good striker that can score goals.
“He is sharp, quick around the box, gets shots off quickly – I think he will score goals and I think he will score goals in that French League – quite alot of goals actually which will help him to that next level of the game.
“Nketiah must be angered by the fact he is not a regular starter for Arsenal – he has been at the club for many seasons and would have been hoping that he is seen as one of the clubs first choices.
‘If he really wants to make the move away from ARSENAL – it will be a very good decision to make as he would be the main man at the club – and would play alot more than what he is at the Emirates.
‘Staying in the Premier League would be a good option if there was serious interest – but there is not and that is why he should make the move to Marseille’
