Tottenham Hotspur may have inadvertently benefitted bitter rivals Arsenal by sealing a £65million deal for AFC Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke last week. Spurs completed the signing of Solanke for an initial £55m plus £10m in add-ons on Saturday, tying him down to a long-term contract until 2030.
It has left Bournemouth scrambling for a replacement before they start their Premier League season by travelling to Nottingham Forest this weekend.
And Arsenal could be offered a reprieve after suffering a major blow in their attempts to clear space in Mikel Arteta’s squad today.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Marseille have informed the Gunners that they have withdrawn their interest in Eddie Nketiah over his asking price.
Arsenal reportedly wanted £26m to part ways with Nketiah, who was thought to have green-lit a switch to the Ligue 1 club.
But the collapsed deal has left Mikel Arteta’s transfer plans and the 25-year-old’s future in limbo with just 18 days of the summer window remaining.
Bournemouth could be set to help both parties out, though, as they assess their options to replace Solanke at the Vitality Stadium.
TalkSPORT claim that the Cherries are interested in signing Nketiah in the coming weeks after FC Porto rejected an initial offer for Evanilson.
Bournemouth were eyeing the 24-year-old Brazilian, who netted 25 goals last season, but joined Forest in being knocked back.
And their attention may have now turned towards Nketiah, who has become an established Premier League player at Arsenal.
The England international has made 168 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 38 goals, including 19 in the Premier League.
He could be in line for plenty of minutes if he remains at the Emirates this season if Arteta opts to use Kai Havertz in midfield like he did at the beginning of last term.
Gabriel Jesus appears to be the Spanish coach’s first-choice striker if Havertz is utilised further back alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Arteta responded to questions about Nketiah’s future by hinting that he could be sticking around after Sunday’s 2-0 win against Lyon, in which he was an unused substitute.
“All the players that are here there’s biggest chance that they stay with us. That’s why they’re here,” Arteta explained.
Arsenal will need all the firepower they get during a challenging start to the Premier League campaign, which starts with Wolves’ visit to north London on Saturday.
The Gunners then face Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion, Spurs, Manchester City and Leicester until October.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk