Eddie Nketiah has been considered by Aston Villa as a potential signing as he runs down his contract with Arsenal.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates with the match ball following their side's victory in the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Sunderland at Emirates Stadium on December 21, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates with the match ball following their side’s victory in the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Sunderland at Emirates Stadium on December 21, 2021. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The Athletic report that Aston Villa have considered Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah in their search for a new striker. As we know, the academy graduate is in the final six months of his contract, so he’s on the radars of a number of clubs.

Nketiah isn’t the only striker Villa are monitoring, as they also follow other forwards on the continent. But Nketiah is on the list.

Speaking in a recent press conference, Mikel Arteta was bullish on Nketiah’s future. The young striker has a deal lasting until the summer, and the Arsenal manager insists he’ll be staying with the club until then.

“The situation is that Eddie is our player and Eddie is going to stay here with us,” Arteta said.

“He’s our player and he’s under contract, so he will stay with us.”

Yet reports from around England aren’t so clear. Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail reported that Crystal Palace are trying to sign Nketiah this month, although his wages are proving an issue at the moment.

Mokbel added that Nketiah has interest from Germany and France in a summer free transfer, which makes it difficult for the English clubs after him to compete financially.

Carabao Cup - Arsenal v AFC Wimbledon - Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates his goal to make it 3-0, London Emirates Stadium. Copyright: ArronGent / News Images
Carabao Cup – Arsenal v AFC Wimbledon – Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates his goal to make it 3-0, London Emirates Stadium. Copyright: ArronGent / News Images

English teams can’t tie Nketiah to a pre-contract agreement this month, so they’d have to pay a transfer fee to land him now.

Even in the summer, they’d likely have to pay a hefty compensation fee to Arsenal. Foreign clubs don’t have that issue.

The Times also report that Palace are in talks with Arsenal over a move for Nketiah. They claim Palace saw a £12m bid for the player rejected last summer, and they’re now trying to land him ahead of Newcastle United and Brighton.

Newcastle’s potential interest in Nketiah has likely since been dulled by the fact they’ve signed Chris Wood from Burnley.