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Transfer news and rumours: Nketiah to Forest, Lacroix to Palace, Benson to Leeds

Transfer news and rumours: Nketiah to Forest, Lacroix to Palace, Benson to Leeds
© Reuters
Sports Mole rounds up the latest transfer news and rumours, including Eddie Nketiah to Nottingham Forest and Maxence Lacroix to Crystal Palace.

Nottingham Forest have reportedly joined the race for Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah, who is widely expected to leave the Emirates Stadium before this summer's transfer window closes for business.

Bournemouth have been credited with an interest in Nketiah, but the Cherries announced on Friday that they had signed Evanilson from Porto in a club-record deal.

A number of other Premier League clubs are still said to be keen on the Arsenal forward, and according to Sky Sports News, Forest are among them.

The report claims that Forest want competition for Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Wood in the final third of the field, and Nketiah is viewed as a genuine target for the club.

The 25-year-old scored six goals and registered three assists in 37 appearances for Arsenal during the 2023-24 campaign.

In total, Nketiah has turned out for the Gunners on 168 occasions in all competitions, scoring 38 goals and registering seven assists in the process.

Maxence Lacroix in action for Wolfsburg in November 2021© Reuters

Palace 'closing in' on Lacroix deal

Meanwhile, according to Sky Deutschland, Crystal Palace are close to completing the signing of central defender Maxence Lacroix from Wolfsburg.

There has been a host of speculation surrounding Lacroix's future this summer, with a number of clubs believed to be admirers.

However, Palace are allegedly advancing on a deal, with the Eagles already coming to an agreement with Lacroix over personal terms.

The report claims that the English club are now in discussions with Wolfsburg, and the Bundesliga outfit want in the region of €20m (£17m) for his signature.

The 24-year-old has made 129 appearances for Wolfsburg in all competitions since his arrival from France's second tier, including 31 outings in 2023-24.

Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol in action with Burnley's Manuel Benson on August 11, 2023© Reuters

Leeds 'register interest' in Benson

Elsewhere, Leeds United are reportedly keen to sign Burnley forward Manuel Benson before this summer's transfer window closes for business.

Benson, 27, made the move to Burnley from Royal Antwerp in 2022, and he has scored 13 times in 46 appearances for the Clarets in all competitions.

The winger netted 11 times in the Championship during the 2022-23 season, but he was restricted to just eight Premier League appearances last term.

According to Football Insider, Leeds have made contact with Burnley to discuss a move for Benson in the latter stages of the summer market.

The right-sided attacker was an unused substitute for Burnley's first match of the new Championship campaign against Luton Town.

Benson has another three years left to run on his contract at Turf Moor, having signed a contract extension in August 2023.

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Written by
Matt Law

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Eddie Nketiah celebrates scoring for Arsenal on October 28, 2023
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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