Eze has been linked with Arsenalplaceholder image
Eze has been linked with Arsenal | AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal have been hovering around Eberechi Eze for some time, could a swap deal provide a solution to Crystal Palace?
Arsenal are going into the new season buoyed by their summer transfer business knowing that they are stronger than when the window first opened.
Mikel Arteta has recruited well with Martin Zubimendi a Sergio Busquets-like presence in midfield which will allow players like Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to do what they do best. In terms of cover, Christian Norgaard is a safe, experienced pair of hands. The 31-year old might not be a headline making signing, but he will protect the defence and link the midfield to the attack.
With the clock ticking though, the last thing Crystal Palace will want is to lose their star man without having a replacement or reinforcements in place. This is where Andrea Berta could earn his money and propose the sort of deal that solves more than one problem.
Crystal Palace swap deal Arsenal could use to get Eberechi Eze
Most of the players who have left Arsenal this summer, eight in total, have either been veterans or injury prone. Only two have left with any fees coming in or to help clear the decks.
The 30-year old winger is as reliable as they come in England, even if he isn’t quite at the level of the truly world class performers. He is certainly good enough to go to Palace and help to replace Eze both in terms of numbers and leadership.
The other option, could be for Arsenal to get Reiss Nelson out on loan again. Now 25, with two years left on his contract he needs to be playing regularly for the Gunners to get any sort of decent fee for him when he does eventually leave.
With Trossard, valued at £17m, a natural left-winger and Nelson preferring the right, Oliver Glasner would have experienced options for either side to compensate for losing Eze.
What has Arteta said about Arsenal signings?
Arsenal boss Arteta would probably be happy if the window shut now and has been happy with what he has seen from the new additions. The season ahead is a big one, having one very clear aim:
"These new arrivals all add quality and depth to the squad, which is what we are going to need throughout the season ahead," Arteta wrote in his programme notes before the clash with Villarreal. "We know what our targets are and what we want to achieve this season -- there is a big belief in our ability to achieve that. We have been very, very close the last few seasons and the whole team is going to determine whether we achieve that or not.
"But at the same time, we have to make sure that we don't lose sight of what we have to do on a daily basis to get to the levels that we want. We have to set the demands that we want within this goal, because that's the most important thing -- the internal demands have to always exceed any external demand. That is what we are trying to achieve every single day."
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