Report: Aston Villa were interested in Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah

By Jordan Harris

Aston Villa were interested in signing Eddie Nketiah while the striker’s Arsenal future was in doubt, according to a report from The Athletic.

Villa have been the early pace-setters in the transfer window. They completed a permanent deal for Philippe Coutinho. And they have followed that with moves for Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos.

Luis Suarez is on the club’s radar. But The Athletic suggests that the 35-year-old is not the only striker the Villans have looked at.

The report claims Villa were keen on Nketiah. Of course, the 23-year-old’s future had been uncertain for a little while. It had seemed that he was destined to leave the Emirates on a free transfer after struggling for game-time.

However, a late run in the side has led to a dramatic change of plans. Reports have claimed that Nketiah is set to sign a five-year deal with Arsenal. And he will earn around £100,000-a-week in North London.

So it seems that Villa will have to look elsewhere with Nketiah sticking around at Arsenal.

Aston Villa interested in Nketiah

Villa have been admirers of a number of Arsenal players in recent years. They signed Emi Martinez off the back of his brilliant run in the side in the early stages of Mikel Arteta’s tenure.

And obviously, Villa made an audacious attempt to sign Emile Smith Rowe last summer. Unsurprisingly, that pursuit did not pay off.

They did catch everyone off-guard in January by signing Calum Chambers. And it seems that they may have wanted to do similar with Nketiah.

Nketiah is a clever striker who often makes sure to put himself in the right positions to finish off chances. He was described as ‘magnificent‘ by Martin Keown after a brace against Chelsea this past season.

His stock has risen considerably. So it is a real boost for Arsenal that he looks set to stay. Villa would have certainly backed themselves to be able to lure him away if they were seriously keen.