Eberechi Eze is close to joining Tottenham after Arsenal backed out of the race.
The England international is expected to start for Crystal Palace in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad on Thursday before sealing a £60m move to Spurs.
TBR Football understand Arsenal view Eze only as a No.10 – and chose not to make a serious push for his signature to avoid adding competition for Ethan Nwaneri in the central attacking areas.
David Ornstein has now provided a new update on Eberechi Eze – which suggests finances were also in mind for Arsenal.
David Ornstein claims Arsenal would have been more interested in Eberechi Eze for a sum of £40m
Speaking on the Sky Mobile Transfer Show, the respected journalist said: “Arsenal love Eberechi Eze, and if the price had been in the £40m range – maybe you could push it a bit higher – then perhaps it would be a different conversation.
“If his move to Tottenham touches £60m, that is not a place Arsenal were comfortable with.”
The fee is understood to be £55m with an additional £5m in bonus payments, so it is expected to reach the £60m mark.
It is a stance that could draw some anger from Arsenal supporters, especially as £52m was spent to sign a backup winger in Noni Madueke.
Arsenal fans were furious with Martin Odegaard after the 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday for his lack of incisive passes when attacking, so someone like Eze would have helped to take the pressure off the Norwegian.
Darren Bent also criticised Odegaard for overcomplicating his passes, so perhaps the Arsenal No.8 is simply feeling the pressure of being the primary creator for Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta needs to give Ethan Nwaneri a genuine chance
If Arsenal really did decide against signing Eze largely due to the presence of Nwaneri, Arteta needs to start showing some faith in the Hale End graduate.
The Arsenal No.22 was not given a single second of action at Old Trafford, and the majority of his 11 Premier League starts last season came after serious injuries to Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.
Therefore, Arteta is yet to prove he admires Nwaneri as much as he claims to in the media.