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Bournemouth’s sale of Dominic Solanke may provide funds for Nketiah, while Arsenal remain keen on Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino
Bournemouth are exploring a move for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, who is available to Premier League clubs following the breakdown of discussions with Marseille.
Arsenal had been in talks with Marseille over a deal worth around £25 million, but the French side have now switched their attention to Lens forward Elye Wahi.
Bournemouth are understood to be among the Premier League clubs who are now showing interest in Nketiah. Their interest comes after the sale of Dominic Solanke, Bournemouth’s star striker, to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £65 million.
Nketiah, 25, was a regular starter for Arsenal in the first half of last season but lost his place in Mikel Arteta’s team around the New Year. His last competitive start for the club came in a 2-1 defeat at Fulham in December.
It remains to be seen whether Bournemouth choose to formalise their interest, or indeed whether any other Premier League clubs enter the race for Nketiah’s signature before the end of the transfer window. Crystal Palace are known to be long-term admirers of Nketiah and were interested in signing him earlier this year.
Selling Nketiah would help Arsenal in their pursuit of other transfer targets this summer, with Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino high on the list of players they want to sign.
As reported by Telegraph Sport last month, Arsenal have identified Merino as a player who can provide more depth, technical quality and physicality in midfield.
Their pursuit of Merino could be helped by the decision of his team-mate, Martin Zubimendi, to remain at Sociedad rather than join Liverpool.
So far this summer, Arsenal have turned David Raya’s loan move from Brentford into a permanent transfer worth around £30 million, and signed Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna in a deal that could ultimately be worth £42 million.
They have sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham in a transfer worth up to £34 million, and have also generated around £4 million from the departure of young striker Mika Biereth to Sturm Graz. Another young player, academy graduate Brooke Norton-Cuffy, is set to join Genoa for £3.5 million.
Meanwhile, Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein has joined La Liga side Real Valladolid on loan for the 2024-25 campaign.
Hein, 22, played for Arsenal during their pre-season tour of the United States and is regarded as a goalkeeper of considerable potential. He has already made 30 international appearances for Estonia.
Another player with an uncertain future at Arsenal is goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who has been the subject of a loan offer from Dutch giants Ajax.
The approach was rejected by Arsenal, who currently have no intention of allowing Ramsdale to leave on loan this summer. Arsenal would be open to a permanent transfer of Ramsdale, provided their valuation is met for a goalkeeper who cost £24 million when he joined from Sheffield United in 2021.
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