The Arsenal forward has been linked with a big-money exit this summer.
The only surprise is that it took so long to happen. After nearly a decade with Arsenal (with the exception of a brief loan spell at Leeds United), Eddie Nketiah appears to be leaving north London this summer. You’d have to say that now feels like the ideal time.
Now 25, Nketiah has struggled to establish himself as a viable first-team prospect at the Emirates. Of course, there have been goal-laden spells, but for the most part, he has flitted in and out of form, vying for Mikel Arteta’s affections. Last season yielded only six strikes over 37 matches.
all competitions, albeit the latter figure is somewhat misleading; out of a possible 3,330 minutes, the striker only played 1,393. The Arsenal forward has been linked with a big-money move this summer.
The only surprise is how long it took to occur. Eddie Nketiah appears to be departing Arsenal this summer, after nearly a decade with the club (with the exception of a brief loan spell with Leeds United). You’d have to admit that right now seems like the optimum time.
Nketiah, 25, has struggled to establish himself as a genuine first-team prospect at the Emirates. Of course, there have been goal-filled moments, but for the most part, he has fluctuated in and out of form, battling for Mikel Arteta’s attention.
Last season, only six goals were scored in 37 games. According to the most recent update, Arsenal is hesitant to allow Nketiah depart in the coming weeks, with Arteta reportedly holding high regard for the player. Not highly enough to give him more than 1,393 minutes last season, but high nonetheless. For his part, the one-cap England international is thought to be keen for more first-team appearances and willing to look elsewhere if necessary. That situation is exacerbated by the belief that Arsenal will almost probably be looking for a new centre striker this summer.
All of this raises the question of where Nketiah should put his coordinates next. Three of the four clubs targeting the Hale End graduate are offering permanent deals, with Everton reportedly preferring a loan agreement. To be fair, given Arsenal’s evident reluctance to sell, it may suit them, but for Nketiah, who is yearning for a genuine, clean break, it could be enough to rule them out.
Indeed, of Palace, Wolves, and Fulham, the latter is thought to be in pole position to sign him, and while you suspect Nketiah might thrive at any of those three teams, the Cottagers may be the best option. Marco Silva’s side dipped slightly towards the end of last season, but they are now a solidly established Premier League side with the potential to go on again next season with the arrival of a couple more players of Nketiah’s calibre.
However, they lack depth at the point of attack. Rodrigo Muniz appears to be improving at a near-exponential rate, but the possibilities beyond the Brazilian are limited. Raul Jimenez appears to be a shell of his former self these days, and Armando Broja will most likely return to parent club Chelsea in the near future with his tail between his legs. And that’s it.
Fulham, then, would provide Nketiah with a genuine opportunity to sign and immediately stake his position as the primary man up front, something he is clearly anxious to achieve wherever he ends at. A transfer to Craven Cottage, therefore, makes an awful lot of sense, and providing Arsenal don’t have some sudden and unexpected change of heart, it This could be a great summer transfer for Nketiah.
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