Crystal Palace have reportedly made their opening offer to Premier League side Arsenal for striker Eddie Nketiah.
The England international has not been handed a single minute so far this season under Mikel Arteta and certainly appears to be surplus to requirements.
Nketiah started 10 league games last season which was his best in a single campaign, showing just how little football he’s played.
He’s now 25 years old and needs to be playing regular first-team football, something Palace believe they can offer him.
Crystal Palace make an opening offer for Eddie Nketiah
Palace looked to have solved their striker woes at the back end of last season with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring 13 in 13 games under Oliver Glasner.
However, since returning from the Olympics, he’s yet to find the back of the net.
Mateta is said to be keen on playing Champions League football during his career, so with Nketiah on the market, this is a smart idea.
The England international was said to be closing in on a move to Nottingham Forest but quickly collapsed thus, allowing the Eagles to swoop in.
According to transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano, Palace have made an opening offer to Arsenal for their striker.
Nketiah is reportedly open to the move as he goes in search of regular game time, and being able to stay in London would surely be a huge plus for him.
Glasner needs attacking reinforcements
The Eagles looked to be thriving with Glasner last season not losing a single game under the Austrian boss.
This term it’s been slightly different sitting outside of the bottom three on goal difference and remaining winless.
Having lost Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, the Eagles seem rather toothless in the final third. So, if they can bring in Nketiah, who’s scored 14 goals in his last 27 league starts then it should be regarded as a major coup.
It’s believed that Arsenal are holding out for around £30 million to part ways with Nketiah.
That sort of fee would make him Palace’s most expensive signing in the club’s history, so it’s a huge move for the Eagles.
Is Nketiah worth £30 million?
While that fee may appear to be inflated, given someone such as Oliver Skipp just joined Leicester City for £25 million, Palace could land themselves a bargain.
The English striker has proven himself to be a solid option from off the bench in recent times, but leading the line for a Premier League side is a different matter.
Signing Nketiah for £30 million would appear to be a risk at first glance given he’s got just 19 league goals in 115 appearances.
With Palace in a predicament in terms of scoring goals this season, so splashing out a record fee on a rather unproven striker would be a huge gamble, but potentially one worth taking.
Arteta is a huge fan of the striker – which is why he’s kept him around as an option off the bench – having labelled him as a ‘beast‘ only last season.
The striker has huge potential, but it’s going to take the right manager and opportunity to unlock it.