Arsenal have secret weapon in Eberechi Eze transfer race as Andrea Berta’s masterplan revealed

Arsenal have a secret weapon in the race to sign Eberechi Eze. The Crystal Palace midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer as Mike Arteta gears up for another title race.

Eze, whose his contract at Selhurst Park expires in June 2027, featured 34 times in the Premier League last season, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists. Playing a key role in Oliver Glasner’s side, he helped the Eagles finish 12th place.

The England international also fired Palace to FA Cup glory, finding the net in a 1-0 win over Manchester City in the final at Wembley Stadium. His impressive performances over the years haven’t gone unnoticed, attracting interest from some top clubs.

In May, football.london exclusively reported that Arsenal were interested in signing Eze this summer. It’s believed that the 27-year-old, who has a £67.5m release clause, would be keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Desperate to secure Eze’s signature, Berta appears to have unleashed his secret weapon during negotiations with the south London outfit. According to The Sun, Arsenal are open to including a unnamed player in their offer for the Palace talisman.

The report claims that the Gunners are prepared to send a ‘promising defender’ to Selhurst Park. The player has been described as an ’emerging star, who’s played a handful of games for the first team’.

As it stands, it remains to be seen who Berta has in mind. But, with Liverpool and Newcastle United reportedly battling it out to sign Marc Guehi, Palace might consider the Italian’s proposal.

Back in May, Arteta claimed that he wants to ‘add goals and creativity’ to his squad in the summer transfer window. The Spaniard said: “What is clear with the amount of injuries we had in the frontline is that we need a goal threat.

“We need the firepower out there. We cannot rely just on the numbers we had before. We have to add goals, we have to add creativity, and we have to add numbers, and that will be in different positions.”

So far, Berta has only managed to welcome Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martín Zubimendi to the Emirates Stadium. With Arsenal’s first pre-season friendly in just under two weeks, the Italian will be under pressure to accelerate his business.

Eze was released from the Hale End Academy at the age of 13, so a call from the Gunners could pull on his heart strings…