Arsenal are reportedly close to hijacking Tottenham Hotspur's move for Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze in an astonishing late transfer twist.
The 27-year-old appeared to be on the way to the home of the Europa League champions, who agreed a deal in principle with the Eagles after the Gunners initially failed to formalise their interest.
Spurs are also thought to have received an indication that Eze was open to joining the club after Thomas Frank lost James Maddison to a serious ACL injury, which could keep the England international out for the rest of the season.
However, a full agreement between Spurs and Palace - and between the player and the club - was yet to be reached, as the Eagles insisted on having Eze available for Thursday's Conference League qualifying playoff first leg with Fredrikstad.
In the meantime, Arsenal attacker Kai Havertz has been sidelined with a knee injury of unspecified severity, triggering their pursuit of another attacker before the transfer deadline, and they have apparently now got one over their most bitter rivals.
Arsenal 'close in' on Eze transfer as 'total package' revealed
Crystal Palace and England's Eberechi Eze pictured on June 10, 2025
According to The Athletic, Arsenal are now closing in on a deal to bring the 27-year-old to the Emirates Stadium after 'making their move' for the player earlier on Wednesday.
Eze - who previously spent time in the Gunners' academy ranks before being released - is also understood to be keen on a return to the Gunners, and Tottenham now have 'little option' but to search for alternative attacking targets.
A successful Arsenal hijack for the former Queens Park Rangers youngster would represent another high-profile transfer failure for Spurs this summer, after the Lilywhites saw former top target Morgan Gibbs-White sign a new contract with Nottingham Forest.
The report adds that Arsenal have 'indicated a willingness' to meet Palace's financial demands, and additional information from John Percy claims that the 'total package' for the Palace man will come in at over £60m.
Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta is said to have been spearheading the club's pursuit of Eze, who would become their seventh signing of the summer after Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
How Eze will fit in at Arsenal after stunning Tottenham 'hijack'
Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace during his team's clash against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, on May 11, 2025
A penny for the thoughts of Daniel Levy, Johan Lange, Vinai Venkatesham - ex-Arsenal now Spurs - and every high-ranking Tottenham official when the David Ornstein bomb dropped.
The Lilywhites had ostensibly done everything possible to win the race for the effervescent Eze, and were Palace not playing in a European qualifier tomorrow, the attacker could have already been on his way to Hotspur Way with no chance of an Arsenal hijack.
However, the Gunners have wasted no time in crushing their rivals' transfer dream after Havertz's blow, and while Eze is not a like-for-like replacement for the German forward, a new creative force was always the number one item on the shopping list.
Eze will more than likely function on the left wing for Arsenal, forcing his way above Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and fellow new signing Noni Madueke - who has played on that side in his earliest days in red and white - in the pecking order.
The 27-year-old is also equally effective in the Martin Odegaard role, but Arsenal have Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman providing cover for their captain in a central area, whereas the left-wing spot had been earmarked as a position to upgrade.
Eze has contributed 40 goals and 28 assists from 169 games in a Palace kit, but whether he will be involved in Thursday's game after tonight's developments remains to be seen.
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