West Ham transfer: Hammers and Crystal Palace reportedly want Arsenal striker

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West Ham, Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen are in the race to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, according to Fabrizio Romano. He confirmed the interested parties via Twitter this afternoon.

Arsenal will consider selling their striker this summer. Mikel Arteta used him sparingly last season and hasn’t really been overly convinced by the youngster.

He made 30 appearances during 2020/21, although a large number of them came from the bench. Nketiah managed six goals for Arsenal, with half coming in the Europa League.

In total, he has found the net on 13 occasions for the Gunners from 65 appearances. That doesn’t represent a great return and him being deemed surplus is perhaps no surprise.

Nketiah scored five goals on loan for Leeds at the start of the 2019/20 campaign. It was in January of that season that he returned to Arsenal and was expected to earn a chance.

Things haven’t worked out though. Although Arteta has been giving game time to youngsters, others have bypassed Nketiah.

Folarin Balogun penned a new deal towards the end of last season. As a result, it would seem as though he will get plenty of chances to impress during 2021/22.

That will force Nketiah down the ranks even further and a move does look sensible from his point of view.

Nketiah needs to leave for regular football and Palace and West Ham look attractive

Crystal Palace have just appointed Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira as their new boss, and Nketiah would surely relish the chance to learn from him.

West Ham aren’t blessed with loads of strikers and will definitely seek one this summer. Michail Antonio has often been the man tasked with scoring goals, although he isn’t an out-and-out striker.

Leverkusen also provide an interest option. Nketiah will perhaps see a point to prove in the Premier League, however, and hold the aces on the Bundesliga outfit.

The youngster earns £17,000-a-week at Arsenal and actually scored against West Ham during 2020/21.

Nketiah needs to play football and this summer looks like being the perfect opportunity for him to get himself out of the Emirates Stadium.