Arsenal are set to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace in what could be one of the more audacious signings of the Premier League’s summer transfer season, according to reports on Wednesday.
The Germany international came on in the second half of Sunday’s win against Manchester United and finished the game, but he was absent from Arsenal’s open training session at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Arsenal became runners-up to Premier League champions Liverpool last season and are likely to fight for the title again, while Spurs, who won the Europa League final, concluded the campaign in a disappointing 17th place.
Eze played 84 minutes in Palace’s weekend draw at Chelsea and trained on Wednesday ahead of the Conference League play-off at home to Fredrikstad, with coach Oliver Glasner maintaining he and Eagles captain Marc Guehi, a Liverpool target, will both start the European match.
Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Eze and completed their hijack of his move to arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, respected reporter Ornstein has revealed, but he will make his final appearance for Crystal Palace in their UEFA Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad on Thursday before undergoing a medical.
The development comes after it was reported on Wednesday that the Gunners had shown a willingness to meet the conditions to strike an agreement, and he had indicated his preference to embark on a fresh challenge at the Emirates Stadium instead of joining north London neighbours Spurs.
Eze, a Crystal Palace fan favourite, has remained a target for Arsenal and Tottenham despite his contract’s £68 million release clause expiring earlier this month.
The Gunners are willing to meet the conditions for an agreement, and he prefers a new challenge at the Emirates Stadium over joining Spurs.
The attacking midfielder, who has been dubbed a’superstar’ by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher for his creativity in the final third of the pitch, is on his way to Arsenal after sporting director Andrea Berta and vice-chairman Tim Lewis led negotiations to beat Spurs to his services at the last minute.
Crystal Palace are expected to make a significant profit by allowing Eze to join Arsenal, as he only cost £19.5 million when he joined from Championship side Queens Park Rangers in August 2020, and he will be tasked with providing regular opportunities for summer signing Viktor Gyokeres at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta and members of the Gunners’ recruitment department chose to negotiate with rival Tottenham following Kai Havertz’s knee injury, which has forced him to miss the first few games of the season, and the England international is expected to undergo a medical later this week.
