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Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah is reportedly edging closer to joining Ligue 1 side Marseille. The English attacker looks set to leave the Emirates as he eyes more first-team opportunities.
French outlet La Provence reports that Nketiah is close to agreeing personal terms with Les Phoceens. The Gunners forward looks increasingly likely to become the next signing of the Roberto De Zerbi era at the Stade Velodrome.
Arsenal are demanding £50 million for Nketiah, 25, who has three years left on his contract. Marseille has yet to agree on that fee but is close to getting the player's green light over the deal.
Nketiah appeared 37 times across competitions last season, registering six goals and three assists. He remained a backup option in Mikel Arteta's frontline, a role he seemingly no longer wants to play.
Marseille is conducting a rebuild, with De Zerbi now at the helm after arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion. Former Gunners captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks likely to leave, paving the way for Nketiah to replace him.
Mason Greenwood arrived from Manchester United for a reported £26.7 million earlier this month. De Zerbi appears to be targeting Premier League talent to help bolster his squad.
Nketiah will leave his hometown if he departs the Emirates for the South of France. The London-born frontman started his youth career at Chelsea before joining Arsenal in 2015. He debuted at senior level aged 18 in October 2017 and has gone on to bag 38 goals and seven assists in 168 games.
"He can be better" - Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta tipped Eddie Nketiah to improve
Nketiah encountered a topsy-turvy 2023-24 campaign but managed to score the first hat-trick of his Premier League career. He was on the scoresheet three times in a 5-0 win against Sheffield United.
Arteta spoke after that game and hailed Nketiah but pointed out there was more to come from the one-cap England international. He said (via The Guardian):
"He can be better, yes. And the best thing is the talent that he’s got, but especially his mentality is incredible. When he has that mentality with that talent, he’s going to get much better."
Nketiah finished the Premier League campaign, having started 10 of 27 games. He struggled to displace Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, who were at the top of Arteta's starting lineup.
The Englishman looks set to leave and he could thrive in Ligue 1. AS Monaco's Folarin Balogun left Arsenal for the French top flight two years ago, and he's been flourishing.
