Mason Greenwood set for dream partner as Arsenal face prospect of losing ‘£30m discount’

Arsenal academy graduate Eddie Nketiah could disrupt the club’s summer plans if he decides to follow Mason Greenwood to Marseille. The forward – who made the move across London from Chelsea in 2015 – is a target for the Ligue 1 outfit after they already invested in one English attacker this summer.

Nketiah, 25, could be on Mikel Arteta’s list of surplus assets after failing to progress beyond his minor role at the Emirates Stadium. And it’s believed any club interested in signing him will have to pay around £30million.

It’s been reported Arsenal were considering using Nketiah as part of a deal to secure Crystal Palace sensation Marc Guehi. The defender – who is valued around the £70m mark – impressed for England at Euro 2024 this summer, which has led to a spike in interest among the Premier League’s elite.

Riccardo Calafiori is reportedly close to becoming Arsenal’s first defensive signing of the summer if he joins from Bologna as expected. But interest in Guehi is said to be increasing in north London amid rumours of a last-minute snag in the Italian’s transfer.

However, Nketiah may not be available as a bargaining chip to secure Guehi for much longer due to Marseille’s ongoing pursuit. The Mirror (via football.london) reported Les Olympiens have opened talks regarding a move for Nketiah and hope to negotiate a loan with an obligation to buy next summer.

Former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has already made a £30m swoop for Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood, who was sold following his arrest in 2022 on charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive behaviour, though those charges were dropped. He revived his career on loan at Getafe last term, though United decided to cut ties with the player altogether.

It’s been reported that Nketiah is open to a move to France as his nine-year stint in North London could be reaching its conclusion. The striker has joined Arteta’s squad on their pre-season tour of the US and is contracted until 2027, but a failure to find footing in Arteta’s plans makes him a handy makeweight in the summer market.

Lewisham-born Nketiah has netted 38 goals and recorded seven assists in 168 first-team appearances for Arsenal. However, only 70 of those games saw him start, with players like Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz blocking his path.

The player may be hesitant to join Palace given the competition among strikers at Selhurst Park, however. Oliver Glasner transformed Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Phillipe Mateta into key goal threats after taking over from Roy Hodgson last season, while the Eagles may not be eager to swap their top defender for a forward who isn’t certain to start.

While there’s still a long road ahead before Arsenal and Marseille reach an agreement over Nketiah, the lines of communication for a deal are open. However, this could hinder the Gunners if they decide to intensify their pursuit of Guehi.