Arsenal
Arsenal seems to be ready to sell Reiss Nelson this summer. However, Benfica appear to have dropped out of the race despite fresh claims from England.
The Gunners have placed a price tag of around €10m (£8.7m) on the winger. They are looking to part ways with the 26-year-old before he enters the final year of his contract.
Portuguese newspaper A Bola recalls Nelson has once again beenlinked with Benfica in recent weeks. However, the outlet says those reports do not reflect the reality in Lisbon. It insists the Arsenal player is not a target for Marco Silva’s side.
Arsenal open to offers
Nelson is available for transfer after spending the last two seasons away from the Emirates on loan.
He first reunited with Marco Silva at Fulham. Afterwards, he joined Brentford for the 2025/26 campaign. He made 14 appearances, scoring once and adding two assists.
With only a year remaining on his Arsenal deal, the London club are prepared to cash in now. They prefer this instead of risking losing him for nothing next summer. According to A Bola, an asking price of around €10m (£8.7m) has been set.
The Portuguese newspaper adds there is interest in the winger elsewhere, although it notes his salary could prove a stumbling block for clubs considering a move.
According to the local insider outlet Glorioso 1904, Nelson is also open to continuing his career outside England after turning down approaches from Premier League clubs.
That could widen the market for the Arsenal winger, even if Benfica are no longer considered realistic contenders.
Benfica stance changes
Benfica had previously been credited with interest in Nelson. This was largely because of his successful spell under Marco Silva at Fulham. The Portuguese coach’s familiarity with the player was also a factor.
A Bola, though, says Benfica have no intention of pursuing a deal. They say this despite continuing to search for another winger before the transfer window closes.
That means Arsenal’s willingness to sell and the relatively modest asking price are unlikely to result in a move to Lisbon, leaving Nelson to look elsewhere as he searches for the next step in his career.
At 26, the winger is approaching an important stage of his career. After limited opportunities under Mikel Arteta and consecutive loan spells, Arsenal appear ready to sanction a permanent exit. This would only happen if a club can meet both their valuation and the player’s wage demands.