News Confirmation : £17m Striker Chooses New Club Over West Ham and Crystal palace

West Ham and Crystal Palace appear to have bowed out of the transfer race for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah with French outfit Marseille now working on finalising a deal with the North London club.

The 25-year-old has struggled for game time under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium and has been tipped to leave his boyhood club in search of more frequent opportunities elsewhere.

The Eagles were hotly linked with a January swoop for the player, which didn’t come to fruition, and GIVEMESPORT labelled Palace as ‘one to watch’ ahead of a potential summer transfer. Just last month, Football Insider also reported that West Ham still had Nketiah firmly on their shopping shortlist.

Arsenal have been driving a hard bargain for the player, who has been part of the club’s set up since 2015. Nketiah bagged five Premier League goals last season but only made 10 league starts.

The Athletic reporter David Ornstein now claims that Marseille have submitted a €20 million, around £17 million, offer for the striker having agreed personal terms. The journalist wrote: “Marseille make improved offer to sign Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal. New bid (nearing €20m) similar to previous but closer to formula #AFC want. Likely to be deemed unrealistic but talks ongoing + 5yr contract agreed; 25yo keen on.”

Nketiah has racked up 168 appearances for Arsenal since graduating to the first team, including outings in the Champions League and Europa League. The striker bagged 38 goals across those appearances but is struggling to get into the starting XI ahead of the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

The player did bag a hat-trick against Sheffield United in the Premier League last October, proving his quality. Speaking after that game, Mikel Arteta said: “Well to me he is top level. He’s started nine out of our ten Premier League games, so that tells you how much we trust him and the importance he has in the team. I’m really happy for him, an academy player to experience a Premier League hat-trick. He needs to enjoy the moment, he fully deserves it, and hopefully there are many more to come.”