Arsenal face Eberechi Eze transfer problem despite interest in Crystal Palace star

Arsenal are interested in Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, football.london understands, as they assess many attacking options ahead of the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old has had a strong second half to the season and sits with 11 goals and 12 assists, along with key goals along the way to an impressive FA Cup final appearance.

The Gunners have suffered from a lack of attacking players after injuries hit the side throughout the campaign. Martin Odegaard missed around two months with an ankle injury, and he has struggled to recover his top form in the wake of his return.

Fabio Vieira was loaned out in the summer, leaving Mikel Arteta short of options. It was made worse with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all suffering major injuries in addition, while Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri have also missed games with hamstring problems during critical points of the campaign.

It is therefore a no-brainer for the club to be both on the lookout for, and considering, an addition in this area that is not the centre-forward. A player who can offer them the strength in depth that was missing.

Eze is someone who can play in multiple roles, is Premier League ready and already in good from. These are not the debated points but there is one aspect that has split supporters.

The divisions exist due to the player’s age, where he will turn 27 next month and the subsequent price that Palace will be looking for. Despite Steve Parish’s openness to admit surprise there was not as much interest as expected last summer, the Eagles drive a hard bargain and held off many big offers from clubs for Marc Guehi.

This has been justified by their FA Cup run and the chance at silverware. While perhaps domestically they have not done what many thought they might, such as what Nottingham Forest have achieved, for example, keeping hold of Guehi and Eze too was key to their hopes of landing silverware.

The age of Eze means it is likely, like with Thomas Partey, for example, that his best years will come with Arsenal, but the sell-on value will be considerably less when it comes to a decision that could see him leave if he ever does. Some prefer to move for a younger option in the role like Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White or Xavi Simons.

However, what Eze does give Arsenal is immediacy and a guarantee of quality. Arsenal need to deliver next season, and it needs to come in the form of a trophy. Signing 27-year-old stars while having some young budding talent coming through could be the answer.

That said, when Arteta was asked about signing depth in Odegaard’s position by football.london, his answer would not have made it that clear a deal was on the horizon for a player.

“We have a lot of options there,” he said. “I mean, Merino can play in that position, Declan, we have Ethan there, that is his main position.

“We have players that can play in that position, we have Max [Dowman] coming up as well, as you know, very soon as well. So I think we are good in that position.”