Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille are working to add more firepower to their attack and have taken their interest in Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah a step further.
Marseille Submit Official Bid for Eddie Nketiah
Nketiah Keen to Quit Arsenal
According to journalist Santi Aouna, Marseille have consolidated their interest in Arsenal’s Nketiah by lodging an official bid. It was reported a few days prior that the French club were showing an interest in Nketiah.
The Ligue 1 “heavyweights” had started discussions with Nketiah’s representatives and are close to reaching an agreement on the player’s contract. Attracted by the sporting project at the club, the Englishman is keen to shift his career to France.
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Marseille’s new boss Roberto De Zerbi is eager to strengthen his attack as witnessed by the signing of Mason Greenwood and the interest shown in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan.
De Zerbi managed Brighton & Hove Albion for two years and has a good knowledge of the English market, hence he has shown interest in players like Hee-chan and Nketiah. If recruited, the “aggressive” striker can add ruthlessness to Marseille’s forward line.
Why Are Arsenal Ready to Sell Nketiah?
While it remains to be seen if Arsenal will accept the bid, they have no qualms with selling Nketiah. The North London club wants to banish their reputation as a bad seller. In recent times, very few transfers, such as Folarin Balogun and Alex Iwobi, have brought huge profits to the club.
Moreover, the arrival of Kai Havertz from Chelsea in the summer of 2024 has led to decreased game time for Nketiah. The Hale End graduate made just 13 starts in all competitions and was reduced to a role on the bench.
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Havertz’s late-season form has convinced manager Mikel Arteta that Nketiah’s sale wouldn’t have a detrimental impact on the team’s performance. Besides, the Gunners have other players like Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus who can lead the attack if needed.
