Arsenal 'set Eddie Nketiah asking price amid Crystal Palace interest'

Arsenal will reportedly demand a fee of £30m to sell Crystal Palace-linked Eddie Nketiah in the January transfer window.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta recently admitted that the addition of a new striker this month "does not look realistic" at present, but that has not stopped the rumour mill linking Nketiah with a possible exit from the Emirates Stadium.

The 24-year-old has spent the last nine years with Arsenal since leaving Chelsea's academy in 2015 and he has made a total of 158 appearances across all competitions, scoring 38 goals and providing nine assists.

However, Nketiah has largely been forced to play second fiddle to Gabriel Jesus under Arteta, starting only 13 of his 27 outings so far this season.

While the addition of a new striker at Arsenal is not guaranteed this month, Arteta is believed to be keen to bolster his attacking options at some stage this year, raising questions marks over Nketiah's long-term future at the club.

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A recent report claims that Crystal Palace have seen an initial approach for Nketiah turned down by Arsenal as they are reluctant to part ways with the striker midway through the season.

However, according to the Daily Star, Nketiah will be allowed to leave the North Londoners if they receive an offer of £30m.

It is understood that Arsenal would then look to use the funds generated from the sale of Nketiah and other potential first-team players to sign a high-profile centre-forward.

The Gunners have been strongly linked with a big-money move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who is also wanted by London rivals Chelsea.

Toney is on the verge of returning to football following an eight-month betting suspension, but he recently suggested that he is not looking to leave the Bees in January.

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Napoli talisman Victor Osimhen has also been linked with a move to the Premier League, but the Nigerian recently extended his contract with the Serie A club until the summer of 2026.

The likes of Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke as well as RB Leipzig duo Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko are three other strikers who are believed to be on Arsenal's radar.

Nketiah would presumably receive more assurances over regular first-team football should he agree to join Crystal Palace, who currently sit 14th in the Premier League table and six points clear of the relegation zone.

Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta are the two main strikers at Roy Hodgson's disposal, although the latter has been tipped to seek pastures new in January.

Nketiah, who is under contract at the Emirates until June 2027, could feature against Palace when Arsenal play host to the Eagles in the Premier League on January 20.