Marseille’s struggles to pay Eddie Nketiah asking price is actually good news for Arsenal, Edu deserves credit

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Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah looks set to depart this summer, but a proposed move to Olympique Marseille is currently stalling.

Marseille and Arsenal have been talks over a loan deal with an obligation to buy for Nketiah, but the French side are currently not prepared to meet the striker’s asking price.

They do not have the funds to be able to commit Arsenal’s desired £42m for the England International, and Edu Gaspar is remaining firm in his valuation.

This may end up proving to be a masterstroke from the Arsenal director, and he deserves credit for what could be a superb tactical decision over the transfer.

Arsenal are remaining firm over Eddie Nketiah asking price

Arsenal and Marseille are currently at a stalemate in talks over Nketiah as the selling club refuses to lower their asking price for him.

Arsenal see Nketiah as more valuable than Folarin Balogun was last year, with the striker joining Monaco for an initial £25.7m, rising to £34.3m.

Edu is refusing to budge, which shows that Arsenal are learning from previous mistakes about selling for below value, and there is merit in this deal dragging on longer throughout the window.

There is a big market for Eddie Nketiah this summer

If Marseille ultimately pull out of the race to sign Nketiah, it will send a message that he has an asking price which has to be met to entertain a deal.

There will be no shortage of Premier League interest in Nketiah this summer, as several clubs seek a striker with experience of scoring goals in England.

Brentford for example, could still lose Ivan Toney this summer, and new signing Igor Thiago has just picked up a long-term injury.

Nketiah would be a valuable asset to a lot of clubs, and would arrive as a 25-year-old England International with plenty of experience playing upfront against Premier League defences.

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As the window goes on, desperation from Premier League clubs could see them match Arsenal’s asking price for Nketiah, and this will show that patience and a firm stance in talks with Marseille could be of benefit.