Arsenal expect Mikel Arteta U-turn on transfer of £50m player in January

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Arsenal expect Mikel Arteta will pull a U-turn over the future of Eddie Nketiah over the January window as clubs target the forward’s transfer after setting their asking price.

The 24-year-old has now been in north London for eight-and-a-half years after moving over to Arsenal’s academy back in 2015. Nketiah signed with their renowned Hale End ranks after seven years at Chelsea. But despite his longevity with the club, Nketiah lives on their fringes.

Arsenal are still yet to see Nketiah establish himself as an essential first-team figure six years on from his senior debut under Arsene Wenger. The striker broke into the Frenchman’s team in September 2017. Yet fewer than half of his first-team outings have come in the starting XI.

Arsenal expect Mikel Arteta to pull a U-turn over Eddie Nketiah’s transfer

Now, TEAMtalk reports that Arsenal chiefs expect manager Arteta to pull a U-turn and agree to sell Nketiah in the January transfer window. The Spaniard is currently not looking to cash in next month. But teams are already showing interest in the attacker’s potential availability.

Arsenal are currently happy to keep Nketiah as he offers Arteta cover for Gabriel Jesus. But a move may yet materialise as Emirates Stadium figures believe the coach will reconsider if his exit would allow the north Londoners to target their own season-defining January transfers.

The Gunners have slapped a £50m January price tag on Eddie Nketiah

Arsenal might also have to pull a U-turn of their own should Arteta decide to sell Nketiah in the January transfer window. 90min reported earlier this week that the Gunners have put a £50m price tag on their Hale Ender. But his likely suitors are baulking at their lofty valuation.

While teams are interested in signing Nketiah in January, they are loath to spend £50m for a transfer. Arsenal have set their valuation at £50m as they regard Nketiah as a superior player to Folarin Balogun, whom they sold to AS Monaco in a deal worth up to £35m this summer.