Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze looks set for a £60m ($81m) switch to Arsenal after being left out of the Eagles’ squad for their Europa Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad on Thursday.
The 27-year-old was absent from both the starting XI and the bench named by Palace boss Oliver Glasner, fuelling speculation that he has played his last game for the club. Eze, a fan favourite at Selhurst Park, famously scored the winning goal in May’s FA Cup final against Manchester City — delivering Palace their first-ever major trophy.
Tottenham Hotspur had been leading the race for Eze earlier in the summer, but Arsenal have since moved ahead of their north London rivals. Should the England international return to the club that released him at 13, he would become Arsenal’s seventh signing of the window, taking their summer spend past £250m. Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi are among the other big-name arrivals at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s interest has intensified following a knee injury to Kai Havertz, who was forced out of training this week after featuring in the Gunners’ opening-day win over Manchester United. The length of Havertz’s absence remains unclear, but manager Mikel Arteta is determined to bolster his squad as he pushes for Arsenal’s first league title in 22 years.
Arteta is expected to provide an update when he faces the media on Friday ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds.