Arsenal to replace Eddie Nketiah with proven striker in cut-price deal: report

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 10: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with Eddie Nketiah during a training session at NAS Sports Complex on January 10, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal are looking to replace outgoing centre-forward Eddie Nketiah this summer, and have settled on a proven Englishman.

The Athletic is reporting that Arsenal are set to accept an offer worth £25m from Crystal Palace for the 25-year-old, providing Mikel Arteta with more money for the final few days of the transfer window.

Nketiah's departure does leave the team light in forward areas, so it seems Arsenal's priority is to add another No.9 before the deadline on Friday.

VIDEO: Why Arsenal Want Mikel Merino So Badly

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal are interested in signing Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the final few days of the window, with the Englishman seen as a suitable replacement for Nketiah.

With just a year left on his contract at Everton, Calvert-Lewin is available in a cut-price transfer. The report adds that the 27-year-old has no intention of putting pen to paper for a longer deal, too, peaking Arsenal's interest. 

The Gunners will face competition from Chelsea and Newcastle for Calvert-Lewin, though, with both sides also keen on adding him to their squads. While Everton valued him at £40m earlier this window, it is expected a lower offer would likely see the Toffees accept.

Arsenal target LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Goodison Park on August 17, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Calvert-Lewin (Image credit: Getty Images)

Transfermarkt values Calvert-Lewin at £18.5m, which is a suitable price for a striker that would provide good backup and support to Mikel Arteta's side. Indeed, he wouldn't come into the team expecting to start, but could prove an important figure as Arsenal look to challenge in multiple competitions this term.

Calvert-Lewin is a decent goalscorer, too, having bagged 54 goals in 216 Premier League appearances for Everton. While not amazing, that record is impressive when considering his time on Merseyside has often been in a team battling to stay in the English top flight.

In FourFourTwo's view, Arsenal signing Calvert-Lewin does make sense this summer, with the English striker able to add depth to the squad following Nketiah's departure. He'll also add another dimension to the team, providing Arteta with more options when looking to chase a game or see a match out. 

Eddie Nketiah celebrates after scoring a hat-trick for Arsenal against Sheffield United in October 2023.

Nketiah looks set to leave (Image credit: Getty Images)

More Arsenal stories 

Arsenal on the verge of agreeing record club sale: report

Arsenal could make transfer u-turn amid six-team chase: report

Arsenal handed transfer lifeline after record deal falls through: report

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.