Arsenal have 'obvious' route to Eberechi Eze transfer as Mikel Arteta faces £100m decision

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu will be hoping their first summer signing can be made over the coming weeks. The Gunners have been linked to a whole host of players though the ongoing European championships is taking the focus with deals expected to advance in mid-July.

football.london understands Arteta's priority ahead of the 2024/25 season is to strengthen Arsenal's midfield. Thomas Partey is expected to depart and thus the Gunners are leaning towards signing a No.6 over No.8 with it also clear they feel there are more attractive options currently in the market for that position.

However, as was the case with Benjamin Sesko, if a unique market opportunity presents itself, that could change. And Crystal Palace ace Eberechi Eze could certainly be that with Arsenal said to be pushing to sign him over Chelsea and Tottenham.

For any major signings to be made, exits will likely need to be sealed first with Aaron Ramsdale, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Emile Smith Rowe among those that could depart. With all of that being said, football.london has taken a look at the latest Arsenal transfer rumours.

Eze to Arsenal latest

Quite frankly from nowhere, Arsenal appear to be the frontrunners to sign Eze in this summer's transfer window. According to journalist Simon Phillips' Substack, the Gunners' interest is 'serious' and they are the team 'pushing the most' to sign him.

Tottenham are also in the race and may feel they have the advantage as Eze is represented by Base, the agency that also have a number of Spurs stars, including manager Ange Postecoglou, as clients.

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football.london says: "If Arteta can convince Eze to sign for Arsenal, it would be a sensational signing. Exactly where he'd fit into his system is currently unclear but it is very likely the Gunners boss would have a precise plan.

"As he has shown on many occasions, Eze is a magical footballer and this could be the transfer that takes Arsenal to the next level. As they would need to beat practically every big team to his signature, such is the interest in his services, if Eze does arrive at Emirates Stadium it would be further proof of how exciting Arteta's project is.

"A release clause of £60million makes a potential Palace exit rather straightforward but to pay that in full, Arsenal will need to agree some senior exits."

Smith Rowe exit impact

Emile Smith Rowe is one of many players on the fringes of Arsenal's starting XI that could be sold this summer. The Hale End graduate has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons and when given opportunities has struggled to make an impact.

As such, he could seal an exit this summer with the Gunners said to be valuing their homegrown star at £40million. Crystal Palace and Fulham are both interested in signing the 23-year-old.

football.london says: "It feels as though it is time for Arsenal and Smith Rowe to part ways. The excellent 2021/22 campaign that saw the emergence of Smith Rowe, where he hit double figures for Premier League goals, and Bukayo Saka is a memory now with it best for both parties their partnership ends.

"If the Gunners can sell towards the higher end of their asking price, Arteta and Edu would require just £20million to afford Eze without majorly upsetting their financial books. Given where Smith Rowe has been deployed this season, it would be the perfect replacement and an obvious route to sealing the move.

"However, given Smith Rowe featured for just 489 minutes last season, it would be some achievement to sell him at that price."