We've rejected a £25m bid (including add-ons) from Nottingham Forest for Eddie Nketiah. But talks are still ongoing, as he's Forest's #1 target and we want between £30m-£35m for him. Some other sources are saying a bid may have already virtually been accepted, as his executive box has been cleared out and AFCAMDEN is saying that Eddie has already said his goodbyes at the club. I suppose we'll see what happens next.
I really want to see this deal done. Nothing against Eddie, but he's just not the standard we require. Also if he goes, then surely we go in for another striker before the window closes.
I think if we get around £28m + add-ons, we should accept and move on. I hope we're not too firm on the '£30m minimum or nothing' line. The main stumbling block with Eddie is his £100k a week wages. For the calibre of clubs that want him, most won't be willing to pay that as he'd be a top earner. However, with Forest, Palace and Brentford all expressing interest, the financial power of PL clubs is strong, so I'm hoping that he goes to another Prem side.
Looks like Forest are in the best position to sign him, and hopefully Palace will bid and push his price up a bit more.
Let's do a quick roundup of what's happened since this morning. Arteta's soon to sign a new deal: Ramsdale could be loaned out to Wolves - with a buy option of £25m. Charlie Patino is leaving for Deportivo La Coruña for a fee of £1m + 'significant sell-on clause'. Eddie Nketiah closing in on a £30m move to Nottingham Forest - edging closer. In what has turned out to be a long-running saga (I swear this guy had better be good), Mikel Merino seems to be getting closer now:
Merino seems like a quality signing but honestly he's quite similar to Declan Rice in profile. I still kind of feel like Rice----Partey-----Odegaard will be our best midfield but I guess we will see. The guy does give us more options.
Eddie's £30m move to Nottingham Forest has fallen through. Although the clubs had agreed a fee, Eddie couldn't agree personal terms with Forest and so its collapsed. Allegedly, his reps were unhappy with the agency fees they were getting and the instalments of the payment terms. Extremely frustrating. The only positive is that Eddie is reportedly still expected to leave the club before the window ends and Palace are now in talks with us over a move. There's also reported interest from Brentford and an unnamed foreign club.
Patino's move to Deportivo La Coruña is now confirmed. Crazy to think he's moved to a second division Spanish side for such a derisory fee. Imagine saying this a few years ago. A real shame that it didn't work out for him, but his development just didn't go where we thought it would. Everyone had high hopes for this kid. He's clearly lost his way a bit, but I really hope he makes it back to the top. All the best, Charlie.
Merino expected to be officially announced today or tomorrow. Being linked to Ferguson at Brighton. Another big physical forward. I never expected a Spanish manager would place soo much enthesis on physicality and size. Don't forget we failed to sign Vlahovic(6'4) and Sesko (6'5) but currently have.. Havertz 6'4 Saliba 6'4 Gabriel 6'3 Calafiori 6'2 Kiwior 6'2 Tomiyasu 6'2 Rice 6'2 Merino 6'2 White 6'1 Partey 6'1 It's interesting how he's building such a physical side. Reminiscent of the early Arsene Wenger days.
Yup, I think that's what he's trying to take us back to. Making us big, physical monsters who are also technically proficient and cover lots of ground. I am still concerned that there's no concrete links to a forward. It seems as if we may need to pull a rabbit out the hat pronto because we're running out of time...
