Ever since getting promoted to the senior side, Eddie Nketiah has struggled to make his mark at Arsenal. He was loaned out to then Championship side Leeds United, where his loan spell was cut short, with Mikel Arteta wanting to keep him at Arsenal.

But even after returning, he didn’t feature much for Arteta’s side, having spent most of his time on the bench or in reserves. The club tried to offer him a contract extension but he has made up his mind to leave his boyhood club due to lack of playtime.

The 22-year-old will be out of contract at the end of the season, and clubs are taking notice of the situation.

According to reports from The Times, Crystal Palace are among the clubs looking to sign the player amid interest from other countries as well, including Germany. 

Patrick Viera will be without his main forwards Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha, who are away to represent their nations in the Africa Cup of Nations. Palace had tried to sign the forward last summer, but their £12 million bid was rejected by the Gunners, as they wanted closer to £20 million. 

Now that the player is determined to move out, Arsenal could be looking to cash-in in January, rather than letting him go for free come summer. 

This would also help them with their pursuit of signing a striker, with Fiorentina’s Vlahovic topping their list of targets.