Eddie Nketiah time at Arsenal could soon be coming to an end with Brighton and Crystal Palace both keen on the striker.
The 22-year-old’s contract is up at the end of the season leaving him available to talk to other clubs, despite being told to stay at the club.
Nketiah may find more first team opportunities if he decides to leave the EmiratesGetty
As well as being linked to the Premier League rivals in the January transfer window, Nketiah has also been tipped to join Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, according to the Daily Mail.
It would be a blow for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta who have offered the academy product numerous contracts.
Nketiah, England Under-21s’ all-time top scorer, has only featured six times across the league and Carabao Cup, a key factor in his decision not to extend his deal.
Impressively though he has scored five times, which included a hat trick in a 5-1 win over Sunderland in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Nketiah’s three league appearances this season have all come after starting from the benchArsenal
The Eagles and Seagulls wanted to sign the striker last summer, with some reports saying that a move to Patrick Vieira’s team would have happened in the 2021 summer transfer window had personal terms been agreed.
The Arsenal legend could now secure the deal with current loan striker Jean-Philippe Mateta unlikely to seal a permanent deal from Mainz to Selhurst Park.
With many suitors showing their interest in Nketiah, it could be a case of when and not if the forward leaves Arsenal even after being recommended to stay with the futures of captain and vice captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette being unclear.
“Eddie Nketiah, I’ve been a big fan of his,” former Man City winger Trevor Sinclair told the talkSPORT Breakfast in December 2021.
“I’ve watched him play for the England Under-21s and he’s hungry, he’s got a point to prove.
Aubameyang and Lacazette’s departure could give Nketiah his chance to shineGetty
“He’s been offered a contract at Arsenal and he’s turned it down, he wants to play football and he’s not been given many opportunities.
“But I’m not sure leaving Arsenal at this time is the right thing to do. You look at the situation with Aubameyang and Lacazette is out of contract.
“I actually think he’s better than [Folarin] Balogun, personally. He’s a London boy, he’s been at the club for quite a while. I’d like to see him being given more opportunities at Arsenal.
“The way he scored his goals last night, his movement was exceptional. It reminded me of Ian Wright a little bit. People can say what they want about me saying that, but he was bright, he was too shifty for the defenders.
Wright was a phenomenal talent and scored 85 goals in 288 games for Arsenalgetty
“I know it was against Sunderland, but that movement would cause any Premier League team problems. He took all his goals really well, it was a brilliant performance from him.
“Arteta’s got a huge problem with Eddie. He’s in the last year of his contract, it runs out in the summer, he’s rejected the contract offers.
“I dont think it’s about money, he wants to play football. He’s been out on loan a lot, he’s only played 58 games and he’s 22 years old, he wants to play more football.
“The best thing he can do is play like he did last night. Play well, score goals, play with enthusiasm, and if he continues to be dismissed and is not given opportunities, I don’t think any Arsenal fan would blame him for leaving.”
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