Arsenal have accelerated their pursuit for Palace star Eze as talks intensified. Arsenal have accelerated their pursuit for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, holding exploratory talks with the England international’s representatives as Mikel Arteta targets attacking reinforcements. The discussions, confirmed by multiple sources over the past 48 hours. This marks the Gunners’ most concrete step yet in a potential £68 million move for the 27-year-old.
Arteta’s Negotiations and Palace’s Stance
While personal terms were informally discussed, Arsenal have not yet accelerated the pursuit of Palace star directly. The Eagles remain resolute that any deal must meet Eze’s £67.5m–£68m release clause. Moreover, these must be payable in instalments, with no intention of accepting a discounted fee. His contract runs until 2027, strengthening Palace’s negotiating position. Tottenham retain long-standing interest through shared agency links (CAA Base) but have not made contact this summer.
🚨𝗘𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗜 𝗘𝗭𝗘 𝗢𝗨𝗩𝗥𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗔̀ 𝗨𝗡 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗔̀ 𝗔𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗟 ! 🏴✅
🗞️ (@FabrizioRomano) pic.twitter.com/Mky0kX3fh8
— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) July 2, 2025
Tactical Fit and Arteta’s Vision
Arsenal‘s pursuit of Eze is part of a major overhaul. Because they already have a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is on the brink of a move, it is believed that Brentford’s Christian Nørgaard is nearing a £15m transfer. Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera is also in talks. Most importantly, signing Eze would not prevent Arsenal from acquiring a strike: either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyökeres as well as a specialist winger in Rodrygo.
Charles Watts, an Arsenal insider, hailed Eze as a “maverick” whose creativity could solve Arteta’s struggles against low-block defences. “He scores goals and makes goals… someone who can do something out of nothing,” Watts noted. ESPN’s analysis further emphasized his rare blend of dribbling prowess and decision-making in the final third.
Broader Transfer Context
Most importantly, Eze can play a multitude of positions which follows Arsenal’s recruitment plan. He is primarily a left-sided attacker but can also play centrally as a No. 10 or No. 8 to give Arsenal cover for Martin Ødegaard and depth in the wing department along with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. The statistical profile provides a profile that emphasises his importance: in fact, Eze is in the 86th percentile in successful take-ons among European attackers and he scored 9 goals in Palace’s last 13 games before the final of the FA Cup against Manchester City.
🔴💣 𝗘𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗜 𝗘𝗭𝗘 𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗔̀ 𝗨𝗡 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗔̀ 𝗔𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗟 ! ❤️🏴
🗞️ @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/5DHrnhWJJS
— Vibes Foot (@VibesFoot) July 2, 2025
Complications and Emotional Pull
Eze’s age (27) has given some clubs pause, but his upward trajectory suggests unrealized potential. A return to Arsenal would also complete a poignant career arc. The Gunners’ released him from Hale End academy at 13. Fabrizio Romano reports Eze is “open” to rejoining, and former Palace teammate Christian Benteke publicly endorsed the move.
What Next?
With Palace unwilling to budge on valuation, Arsenal must decide whether to trigger the clause. As the club finalizes foundational signings (Zubimendi, Nørgaard, Kepa), Eze represents the “flourish” that could elevate this window among Arsenal’s most consequential. For Arteta, securing a game-changer who addresses last season’s creative shortages may prove irresistible—even at a premium price.
For Arsenal, Eze offers a tactical solution to Mikel Arteta’s creativity deficit against low-block defences. His elite dribbling (86th percentile in successful take-ons), versatility across left-wing, attacking midfield, and central roles, and clutch performances (including Palace’s FA Cup final winner) align perfectly with Arteta’s demand for “game-changers” . Crucially, this move is viewed as complementary to—not replacing—Arsenal’s parallel pursuits of a striker (e.g., Sesko or Gyökeres) and a specialist winger like Rodrygo .
The looming threat of Tottenham, with their strong agency ties to Eze’s representatives (CAA Base), adds urgency. Arsenal’s hope rests on structuring a deal with staggered payments (£25m–£30m upfront) and performance bonuses to ease the financial burden. If successful, Eze could transform Arsenal’s attack; if not, the club must decide whether to meet Palace’s hardline valuation or risk losing their priority creative target to rivals. The next days will define this transfer saga.
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