West Ham United, Fulham 'among clubs interested in Arsenal's Reiss Nelson'

Arsenal attacker Reiss Nelson is rumoured to be attracting interest from Fulham and West Ham United ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Hale End graduate has played second fiddle to Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side this season and has been restricted to fleeting appearances off the bench during Arsenal's title charge.

Nelson - who has also endured a difficult time with injuries this season - has made just 16 appearances in all competitions, and his only starts have come in the Europa League and EFL Cup.

All nine of the 23-year-old's Premier League outings this term have been as a substitute, but he has managed to produce an eye-catching three goals and two assists during his cameo appearances.

After scoring twice and setting up another in October's 5-0 rout of Nottingham Forest, Nelson assisted Ben White's equaliser in March's clash with Bournemouth before sending the Emirates into pandemonium with a 97th-minute winner.

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The former England Under-21 international is only under contract in North London until the end of the season, but Arsenal are in talks with his representatives over an extension.

Nelson is believed to have rejected the Gunners' first offer of a new contract, but negotiations will continue in the coming weeks in the hope of finding an agreement.

However, clubs in the Premier League and abroad are circling, with AC Milan and Brighton & Hove Albion understood to be among the interested parties.

Now, the Evening Standard claims that West Ham and Fulham have also entered the race to sign Nelson on a free transfer should Arsenal fail to reach an agreement with his agents.

Nelson has affirmed on more than one occasion that he wants to stay at Arsenal, but the form and expected contract extension of Saka could continue to limit his game time.

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The winger has spent the last 16 years in North London since joining the club's academy in 2007, and he has since recorded seven goals and seven assists in 64 senior appearances.

Nelson has one FA Cup and two Community Shields to his name at the Emirates, while he also helped Feyenoord reach the final of the Europa Conference League last season during a productive loan spell.

Regardless of Nelson's future, Arsenal will be expected to trim their ranks significantly ahead of the 2023-24 season, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles already confirmed to be leaving when his contract expires.

Pablo Mari's loan move to Monza is also set to become permanent after the Serie A new boys staved off relegation to the second tier, while Kieran Tierney and Folarin Balogun could also be the subject of summer transfer tussles.

Loanees such as Nicolas Pepe, Alex Runarsson, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Cedric Soares, Auston Trusty and Nuno Tavares are also facing uncertain futures with Arsenal, who remain second in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's visit of Brighton & Hove Albion.