Arsenal are reportedly closing in on an agreement with Crystal Palace for the transfer of attacker Eberechi Eze.
The Gunners have recently announced the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and are also working on the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting.
Were they to land Eze – ranked at no.39 in FourFourTwo's list of the best Premier League players of the season – on top of those deals, few teams could boast a stronger squad heading into the new campaign.
Arsenal reportedly meet Crystal Palace’s demands for Eze
Eze had an incredible season last term, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists in all competitions for the Eagles, including the deciding goal in their historic FA Cup final triumph against Manchester City at Wembley.
His performances for the south London club have attracted admiring glances from the Emirates Stadium, teeing up a potential move to the Gunners, a club that rejected the playmaker as a teenager.
According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal have offered a £45m upfront fee with performance-related add-ons to take the total package towards Eze’s £67.5m release clause, a structure Palace are said to be happy with.
Personal terms are not set to cause an issue either, with the 27-year-old being offered a contract worth double his current remuneration at Selhurst Park.
The same report states both Tottenham Hotspur and City made approaches earlier in the summer, but it appears to be Arsenal that have won the race.
It remains to be seen, should they get the deal over the line, whether Eze comes in to challenge Martin Odegaard in central attacking areas, or to take the spot of Gabriel Martinelli on the left.
In FourFourTwo’s opinion, the time feels right for Eze to move.
He can prove no more at Palace and has handed them their first piece of major silverware, forever etching himself into the club’s history books.
But now entering the prime of his career, it’s time to test Eze battling at the top of the division and at the business end of the best competitions, an opportunity he’ll get with Arsenal.
Eze is valued at €55m, according to Transfermarkt.
