Arsenal are accelerating their attempts to sign Eberechi Eze with the player increasingly keen to join the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta is keen to add more creativity and versatility to his attack this summer after last season’s title challenge was undermined by injuries to key personnel.
Eze would offer Arteta options on the wing and in a central playmaking role in which he has thrived for the Eagles over the last couple of years.
Club captain Martin Odegaard struggled to recover after an ankle operationlast September and endured a difficult campaign, but with few alternative options he was asked to shoulder the burden of creative responsibility.
Arteta does not appear to trust teenager Ethan Nwaneri in the No.10 position at present and although Max Dowman is expected to be promotedand potentially make his senior debut next season, it would be unfair to expect him to make a significant impact at first team level.
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Fabio Vieira has returned from his loan spell at Porto, but he is likely to be deemed surplus to requirements and will leave as and when a suitable offer arrives.
Eze has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham but is understood to prefer a move to Arsenal, the club who released him when he was just 13.
Talks have taken place between Arsenal and the 27-year-old’s representatives to ascertain Eze’s salary demands and the details of his release clause.
According to The Evening Standard, while Arsenal would prefer to negotiate a slightly lower fee, there is no way Palace would consider selling their prize asset for anything lower than the £68million which can be paid in three installments.
Arsenal, meanwhile have signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea.
The 30-year-old Spaniard spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, making 35 appearances in all competitions.
Arsenal had brought in Neto from the Cherries as back-up to David Raya, but the Brazilian has returned to the Cherries following the end of his own season-long loan.
Kepa, who spent the 2023/24 campaign at Real Madrid, has signed a three-year deal. The fee is reported to be around £5million, with the transfer subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
‘I’m really, really happy to be here, really excited and looking forward to what is coming,’ Kepa told Arsenal’s website.
‘The ambition that is shown in this club, when I talk with Mikel (Arteta) and (goalkeeping coach) Inaki (Cana), how much they show me their desire to win, I think we are so close to winning and, hopefully, altogether, we can achieve it.’