Arsenal focuses on a movement for Crystal Palace star Ebereechi Eze and has an extra stimulans available for the English international when he joins the Gunners
Arsenal will hope that the prospect to hand over Ebereechi Eze, his ideal shirt number can help a possible movement of Crystal Palace. The Gunners made their last priority of Eze after they finally signed Viktor Gyokeres for £ 63.7 million to end the long -term transferssaga.
Mikel Arteta is eager to improve his team after he has fallen short in the title race in the past term. So far, Arsenal has spent nearly £ 200 million on Center-Midfield couple Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Chelsea wing player Noni Madueke, Valencia defender Crisquera and new striker Gyokeres.
Eze was consistently blinded in Palace during his time and ended last season with 25 target contributions, including the winner in the first FA Cup triumph of the club. The attacking midfielder has put on the number 10 shirt most of his career, a team number that Arsenal did not use since Arteta Emile Smith Rowe allowed Fulham to add Fulham for £ 34 million.
When it was asked if he was upset by the departure of Smith Rowe, the Arsenal boss confessed: “A lot. When I had the conversation with Emile, I really felt it. First of all because I have enormous gratitude because he came to the team at a difficult moment.
“I think he was the player who clicked our supporters and the team in a certain way. I don't know how to explain it, but that was my feeling. Something changed when he came to the team. He immediately created a different energy.
“And I have the feeling, 'Argh', that I did not get the best out of him. Of course, many things happened at that time.
“For my part it was really sad, because I know how those guys feel when they are in that building, how hard everyone works to get them close to the first team, so I feel a huge responsibility to give them the chance. And now they can keep this level and make us better? That is the idea.”
Mirror Football understands that the Gunners opened conversations last month about a potential deal for Eze. The 27-year-old has a release clause of £ 68 million in his contract, but Arsenal strives for a movement around £ 60 million. The club considered offering Reiss Nelson as part of a Swap deal, but the midfielder is a target for Fulham.
The vacant shirt number could appeal to Eze, which has been the number 10 of Palace since 2021 and also wore the same number in his last two seasons at QPR. Arsenal icons such as Paul Merson, Dennis Bergkamp and Mesut Ozil each put on the number 10 shirt.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner, however, has insisted that his team cannot afford to sell their star players, amid interest in Eze and Captain Marc Guehi. The club made a slow start of the summer window because of the dispute about which European competition they could come in.
“Although all players are still here, we have not taken the best out of the transfer window so far,” Glasner admitted to the Austrian Outlet Kronen Zeitung. “I was promised that we would be more active and bring in the new players earlier this year.
“From now on I have 17 Outfield players. I hope we won't lose anymore. If that happens and we get four new ones on the Deadline day like last year, a different false start is possible.”