‘£30m’ Arsenal transfer claim issued after Eddie Nketiah update – pundit
Arsenal can save “£30million” by handing Eddie Nketiah a new contract, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker claimed Nketiah is in a “great position” to negotiate a bumper new deal thanks to his end of season form and Arsenal’s lack of strikers.
The Daily Mail reported last month (25 May) that the striker, who turned 23 on Monday (30 May), has been offered a new five-year deal worth around £100,000-a-week that also includes a £5million signing-on fee.
With his current deal set to expire this summer, it is claimed he will extend his stay at the Emirates by penning a new contract worth £31million over the next five years.
And while Agbonlahor has claimed he is not worth £100,000-a-week, it makes business sense to tie him down.
He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Listen, he’s not a £100,000-a-week striker but fair play to him for getting that.
“His agent is using his position and Arsenal’s position. [Alexandre] Lacazette is leaving, [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang has left and they’ve got no strikers.
“So Nketiah is in a great position. To give him £100,000-a-week and a £5million signing-on fee, what is a striker like him going to cost £20million, £30million?
“They might have him in the door as a second or third choice striker but they still need another two strikers.
“He’s not a £100,000-a-week striker but Arsenal are in a position where they have to pay it because they know that someone else out there will give him that money because he’s a free transfer.
“He’s in a great position and his end of season form has helped him put into that position to negotiate that.”
In other news, Arsenal have opened talks with another striker who has told friends he wants to join.