KEY POINTS
- Eddie Nketiah is nowhere close to signing a new deal to stay with Arsenal
- West Ham United is singled out as team who will make a serious push for Nketiah
- The Gunners are waiting on the best offer for Nketiah before the striker’s deal expires at the end of the season
Arsenal is nowhere near closing a new deal with Eddie Nketiah, and it appears that the English striker is set to leave the Emirates Stadium as early as the January transfer window.
Multiple teams are reportedly targeting the 22-year-old footballer with West Ham United at the top of the list.
At least three English Premier League teams have their eyes on Nketiah according to the Daily Mail.
A move to London Stadium would make sense considering the Hammers are lacking strikers in the mix.
The contract of the English footballer, previously compared to Jermain Defoe for his ability to shoot accurately, is set to expire at the end of the season.
Talks between Nketiah and Arsenal are far from getting settled.
According to Sky Sports, he shunned the latest contract offer by the Gunners.
Nketiah has not started in any Premier League game for Arsenal since April, but the striker has started in three games this season in the Carabao Cup, which has resulted in him scoring five goals.
Hence, a parting of ways looms and the earliest time this could happen is by the January transfer window.
Arsenal still has time, but so far, efforts to keep Nketiah have proven to be futile.
Despite his situation, Nketiah is trying to keep his focus on honoring his existing contract with the Gunners.
"I'm just eager to play football. I'm under contract and as long as I play for Arsenal I will give my all," Nketiah stated.
But like most players who could be moving to a new team in the January transfer window, there are money matters on the table.
Last summer, Arsenal valued Nketiah at £20 million ($26.81 million), and the Gunners will unlikely entertain offers below per The Athletic.
However, the fact that they could end up with nothing in exchange for the English player could alter that scenario for as long as the offer is reasonable.
Hence, West Ham and other teams who may have vested interest in Nketiah could play the waiting game to hopefully get a discount before moving ahead in their pursuit of the young striker.
Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal Photo: Getty Images | Julian Finney
