Arsenal are treating Eberechi Eze as a major transfer target following a key meeting held with the Crystal Palace midfielder’s agents.
The Gunners are now fully aware of the England international’s salary expectations and the details of the 27-year-old’s release clause.
According to the The Athletic,Arsenal want to negotiate a deal for less than the £68m which, if they were willing to pay, would make a deal relatively straightforward.
Mikel Arteta is desperate to enhance his attacking options this summer after last season’s title challenge was undermined by an injury crisis that accounted for the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with moves for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, while a new winger to provide Gabriel Martinelli with competition is also viewed as a priority.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
The likes of Rodrygo, Rafael Leao, Morgan Rogers and Noni Madueke are all of interest, to varying degrees, but it is claimed the potential arrival of Eze would not necessarily mean Arsenal would be forced to compromise on any of their other targets.
According to Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, Eze, himself, would be open to a move to Arsenal, the club he was discarded by when he was a teenager, should Palace receive a formal offer.
Elsewhere, Arsenal are expected to finally confirm the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad this week.
The Spain international nearly joined Liverpool 12 months ago but a late change of heart saw him remain with the Basque club.
Arteta, however, has convinced the 26-year-old to join the north London club and he is expected to replace Thomas Partey who will leave as a free agent after negotiations over a new contract broke down.
A deal for Brentford’s Christian Norgaard is also in the pipeline with the Brentford skipper’s signing likely to offset the departure of another experienced midfielder in Jorginho.
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa is also set to undergo a medical after Arsenal agreed a £5m fee with their London rivals.