Arsenal Risks Major Gamble on Eddie Nketiah as Marseille Pursuit Fades Amid £25.6m Agreement

Arsenal are facing a significant decision regarding Eddie Nketiah amid interest from Marseille.

The French club has made multiple attempts to secure the striker, but Arsenal has consistently rejected their bids, stating that they fall short of their valuation for the player.

Marseille’s initial offer was swiftly declined, while their second proposal was more appealing yet still below the required asking price.

Last week, the club submitted a third bid, proposing a loan for Nketiah with a commitment to pay approximately £25.7 million (€30 million) for a permanent transfer next summer.

However, with Marseille now holding the decision, Mikel Arteta opted to bench Nketiah during Arsenal’s recent Emirates Cup victory over Lyon, further fueling speculation about the striker’s future.

Despite this, Arteta downplayed the rumors, stating in his post-match press conference that all players currently with the squad are likely to remain.

Arsenal’s decision to keep Nketiah comes after they had already sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham for £34 million, indicating that they are not in a position to facilitate further exits unless they meet their valuation.

Sporting director Edu has faced scrutiny in the past for not maximizing player sales, but recent improvements have been noted, such as Folarin Balogun’s sale to AS Monaco last summer for £34 million, which included a 17.5% sell-on clause.

Although Arsenal has secured a substantial sum from recent transfers, the situation with Nketiah represents a gamble, as his market value may decline over the next year.

With reports from RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins indicating that Marseille is close to finalizing a deal for Elye Wahi from Lens, it seems their interest in Nketiah may be waning.

Wahi is expected to join Marseille for around £21.4 million (€25 million), along with an additional £4.3 million (€5 million) in performance-related bonuses.

Given that Nketiah is likely to find himself behind Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in the Arsenal lineup, his playing time this season could be limited.

Crystal Palace has previously shown interest in the striker and could reignite that pursuit before the summer transfer window closes, but their current focus appears to lie elsewhere.

Ultimately, while Arsenal’s decision to hold firm on Nketiah could prove risky, it underscores the club’s intent to maintain control over player valuations and investments in the squad. Only time will reveal whether this strategy will pay off or if the gamble will backfire.