Eddie Nketiah: ‘£40m’ transfer claim issued after Arsenal contract twist
Noel Whelan has suggested Arsenal would have to spend up to “£40million” on a new striker were Eddie Nketiah to leave on a free transfer.
The former Leeds and Aberdeen forward, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 22-year-old has done enough to warrant a new contract at the Emirates Stadium.
As reported by the Athletic on Thursday (26 May), Nketiah is on the brink of tying himself down to a long-term deal in north London after changing his mind about leaving.
The striker’s current terms expire this summer, meaning he would become a free agent.
Whelan suggested the U-turn from Nketiah could save Arsenal millions in the transfer window.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think there’s enough to be seen there of a different striker. I still believe they need another striker as well as Nketiah.
“But I do think we’ve seen enough of him to see he can do a job in the Arsenal side. He probably will be used a lot more. I think he’s probably twisted the arm of Arteta with those performances at the end of the season.
“Is it easy to let a goalscorer, a natural goalscorer, like Nketiah go? It’s not. You might look back and think: ‘Did I make the right decision there?’
“Instead of going out and spending £40million or £30million on another striker on top of another striker, you might have that different player that you need. That striker to go and win you football matches when it’s 0-0 or get back in a game.
“Eddie’s shown he’s adapting, he can play in that style and play with the players that they’ve already got. So yes, to me, I think he’s done enough to deserve a contract.”
In other news, Arsenal in talks for high-profile attacker signing.