Aston Villa have joined the race to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah as they are “considering” making a move for him this month, according to reports.
The forward’s future is in doubt as his current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2021/22 campaign. Paul Merson has encouraged Nketiah to pen a new deal at Arsenal:
“He’s hungry. There’s talk that he doesn’t want to sign a contract which I can understand because he wants to play but at the same time I’m looking and you’re at Arsenal, an unbelievable football club.
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“You’re only a young kid, you’ve got time, be patient. I like him, he’s a good finisher, a good goalscorer, got pace.
“If I was his agent I’d be signing again. I left Arsenal, it’s different. This is an unbelievable football club and you only realise when you leave.”
Nketiah has only played three times in the Premier League this season. He has performed well in the Carabao Cup though as he has scored four goals from his five games.
The likes of Brighton and Crystal Palace have been linked with the forward. The Athletic are now reporting that Aston Villa are “considering” a move for him.
It is also stated that Villa are continuing to “monitor the situation of other forwards” around Europe.
Speaking earlier this month, Darren Bent suggested that Brighton are “crying out” for a striker like Nketiah:
“Eddie Nketiah, I’ve been a big fan of his. I’ve watched him play for the England Under-21s and he’s hungry, he’s got a point to prove.
“He’s been offered a contract at Arsenal and he’s turned it down, he wants to play football and he’s not been given many opportunities.
“But I’m not sure leaving Arsenal at this time is the right thing to do. You look at the situation with Aubameyang and Lacazette is out of contract.
“I actually think he’s better than [Folarin] Balogun, personally. He’s a London boy, he’s been at the club for quite a while. I’d like to see him being given more opportunities at Arsenal.
“The way he scored his goals last night, his movement was exceptional. It reminded me of Ian Wright a little bit. People can say what they want about me saying that, but he was bright, he was too shifty for the defenders.”
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