Arsenal have now rejected a second bid from Crystal Palace for Eddie Nketiah, according to a report from Sky Sports’ live transfer blog.
Nketiah could be one of the players who leaves the Emirates in the final days of the January transfer window. His contract expires in the summer.
Mikel Arteta had previously suggested that Nketiah was set to remain an Arsenal player beyond the deadline.
It had appeared that he may on the way to Newcastle United.
However, Palace have also attempted to sign the 22-year-old in this window. It was reported during the week that the Eagles had seen a first bid for the striker rejected.
And it appears that Patrick Vieira’s men have now made another attempt to secure a deal. Sky Sports reports on their live transfer blog that Arsenal have just turned down a second Crystal Palace bid for Nketiah.
The Eagles will now have to weigh up whether to return with a third offer. Of course, Newcastle will seemingly be monitoring events closely.
Arsenal cannot afford to sell Nketiah as Crystal Palace make second bid
As things stand, Arsenal cannot really afford to let anyone else leave without new signings coming in. Several players, including Folarin Balogun, have already left on loan deals. Meanwhile, Sead Kolasinac and Calum Chambers have moved permanently.
Nketiah has not been prolific in the Premier League. And some Arsenal fans would probably be left underwhelmed if he ended up signing a new contract.
But the Gunners lack depth up front. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could well leave in this window. And Arteta has previously labelled the academy graduate an ‘extraordinary‘ player.
The onus is on Nketiah’s admirers to make an offer Arsenal simply cannot refuse. Presumably, that is likely to be a lot easier for the Magpies than Palace.
But that is seemingly not preventing Palace from trying to secure his signature before the deadline passes.
