Arsenal are set to make a surprise move for Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, potentially scuppering Tottenham Hotspur’s plans to sign him in a dramatic summer transfer twist.
Tottenham were close to signing the 27-year-old playmaker, with negotiations reportedly going smoothly, but Arsenal are now poised to snatch the deal, with Mikel Arteta eager to bolster his attacking options amid fresh concerns over Kai Havertz’s knee injury.
Eze, formerly of Arsenal’s academy, has developed into one of the Premier League’s most skilled and creative midfielders after being released as a teenager. According to The Athletic, Arsenal has reached an agreement in principle with Palace to sign Eze for a fee in the region of £68 million ($91 million), matching Spurs’ proposed offer.
Arsenal’s interest increased after Havertz suffered an injury setback.
The Germany international played in Sunday’s win over Manchester United, but was noticeably absent from Arsenal’s open training session at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League last season and are expected to challenge for the title again, while Spurs, Europa League winners, also have high hopes.
Eze played 84 minutes in Palace’s weekend draw at Chelsea and trained on Wednesday, with coach Oliver Glasner confirming that he and captain Marc Guehi will both start in the Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad.
“Before Chelsea, I think many of you were surprised that Marc and Ebs started and played almost the whole game,” Glasner told a pre-match press conference earlier Wednesday.
“Most of you will be surprised that they will start again tomorrow because of all the rumours. But again, they are committed.”
Glasner, who also guided Palace to Community Shield glory in a penalty shoot-out win over Liverpool, added: “They are committed to the team, they have a contract here, they played a crucial part that we could be so successful, and they will play a crucial part as long as they are here.
“Because they are good, they are committed to the team, and when one of the players leave, which I don’t know at the moment, then they want to leave as players who always gave 100 percent for Crystal Palace.
“This is what they did since they signed, and this is what we expect from them until the end of their contract, whenever this is.”
Palace captain Guehi is under contract until next year, while Eze’s deal expires in 2027.
“This noise, these rumours, it’s not just for three days, it’s been written for weeks,” said Glasner.
