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Arteta needs attacking talent | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal are said to have made contact over a possible signing this summer.
Arsenal are said to be ready to challenge Tottenham for the signing of one of the most attractive Premier League talents available this summer. The Gunners are on the lookout for attacking signings, requiring a starting-calibre striker and winger.
Eze operates best in the number 10 role, but he can also play wide, and that might suit the Gunners because they could also do with a genuine back-up option for Martin Odegaard. Eze could kill two birds with one stone, and he is available for a much more affordable price compared to the others mentioned.
The England international has a release clause of £68million, and there have been reports suggesting that fee does not have to be paid upfront. Tottenham are said to be long-term admirers of Eze, and they are seen as the most likely option for the creative spark this summer, but GiveMeSport now report that Arsenal are considering a deal.
They say the Gunners have made ‘first contacts’ over a potential deal, but the are waiting on news over a possible Rodrygo deal first. Arsenal are now in the conversation to hijack any Tottenham deal, although it’s unclear who Eze would choose. The England international does have a particularly level head, and he is likely to want assurances of regular football, especially given Palace have qualified for Europe.
Crystal Palace’s stance
Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish spoke to Overlap US in May to discuss the Eagles’ business strategy. He said: “The first thing is we need to stay in the division so that's the first north star and that's obviously not easy as we can see from even Man United and Tottenham this year. They're not really close to relegation, but that's arguably because we have all taken a lot of points this year off the bottom three clubs. Anything that increases the risk of that dramatically, it's very difficult to find a way to do it.
"After that, then, of course, we will be a trading club. We want to survive and thrive in this division for two reasons: firstly because financially you have to cover the cost of running the club and, secondly, because the kind of players we want to attract we need to show them a pathway.
"We're a destination for those great pros that have still got a massive competitive instinct, still want to do well, still want to give everything when they cross the white line but they realise they're probably not quite going to get to the level above us. Then there are players that are on a journey and on their way to the Bayern Munichs and other clubs. We realised over a period of time that we have to be really open to it.
"The thing you have to do with clubs like ours is manage that process as well as you can so not to lose too many. I remember Sir Alex [Ferguson] used to try and bring in two players every summer. He thought any more than that was very difficult to integrate in the squad. That would be the kind of number of your real premium talent that you would be really able to deal with in any one summer so trying to time things so you can manage that is what we're trying to do."
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