Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah is on the verge of joining Olympique de Marseille (OM) in a loan deal with a mandatory purchase option, according to L’Équipe.

The French club, aiming to revamp 80% of its starting lineup, has significantly accelerated negotiations for the 25-year-old English international.

It's moving forward for Nketiah The Marseille club, which is about to change 80% of its starting 11 this summer window, continues to activate on all fronts and is making good progress on the Arsenal striker's file. L'Équipe23 Jul 2024 Eddie Nketiah could leave Arsenal to join OM. The work continues in Provence, where the OM transfer window overshadows the upheavals of French political life and the final preparations for the Olympic Games. The Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, 28 years old, arrived Sunday evening at Marignane airport, he passed his medical yesterday and he committed to a loan with a mandatory purchase option of 4 years. Eager to find resources, the Marseille club is discussing with Crystal Palace for a transfer of Ismaïla Sarr, the 26-year-old winger, more interested in the Premier League than in Saudi attractions. In parallel, Pau Lopez will soon be transferred to Serie A, to Como, once his successor is found. OM continues to focus on several profiles, including that of the Dane Filip Jorgensen (Villarreal, 22 years old), an expensive track. Another plan is unanimous internally, a goalkeeper who can be developed by Roberto De Zerbi, as was Bart Verbruggen at Brighton, last season. And many other parts of the workforce are being reconstituted. While the files of Alexis Sanchez, free after the end of his contract at Inter Milan, and Hwang Hee-chan, still linked to Wolverhampton until 2028, are still open, the OM managers have clearly accelerated in that of Eddie Nketiah. Possible substitute for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who left for Al-Qadsiah (Saudi Arabia), the Arsenal striker (25 years old) has almost agreed with the Olympian club on his salary conditions. At the same time, OM must manage to find common ground with Arsenal, where the player is still under contract until 2027. Potential Murillo leaving As in the summer of 2021, where he had notably recruited William Saliba, Mattéo Guendouzi or Cengiz Ünder, President Pablo Longoria is trying to advance on a loan with a mandatory purchase option in a year. A way of shifting payments and being able to recruit "rated" players in advance, with the objective of qualifying for the Champions League in a year. The issue of extra-community places has become essential in the discussions between the leaders of OM and Zerbi. After Amir Murillo (Panama) and Luis Henrique (Brazil), Mason Greenwood (England), officially presented last week, regained the third place out of the four available, which leaves a very reduced margin of maneuver for the rest of the recruitment. Indeed, many targeted players (Hwang, Sanchez) must comply with this legislation, which necessarily limits the tracks. Thus, despite the departure of Jonathan Clauss, almost acted on the side of Nice, the managers are considering a departure ... of Murillo. According to some sources, agents have even been mandated for the release of the Panamanian international, a version contradicted by the Commandery. This solution is well envisaged, even if there would then be only one professional right-back left in the squad, the returning Pol Lirola, who has already been under the orders of De Zerbi in Sassuolo. Used on the right in training as during the first preparation match, Sunday against Nîmes (0-2), Bamo Meïté is also seen as a viable solution.
L’Equipe 23 July, 2024 – It’s moving forward for Nketiah
The Marseille club, which is about to change 80% of its starting 11 this summer window, continues to activate on all fronts and is making good progress on the Arsenal striker’s file.

Nketiah, who made 27 Premier League appearances and scored five goals last season, has reportedly agreed to personal terms with OM. The club, led by president Pablo Longoria, is seeking to defer payment for the transfer by a year through the loan structure.

Nketiah is said to be enticed by the challenge at Marseille, who recently sold former Arsenal captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Al-Qadsiah.

Arsenal's British forward #14 Eddie Nketiah controls the ball during a UEFA Champions League group B football match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, on December 12, 2023. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s British forward #14 Eddie Nketiah controls the ball during a UEFA Champions League group B football match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, on December 12, 2023. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)

OM’s pursuit of Nketiah is part of a larger recruitment drive. The club has already secured the services of Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg and is in discussions with Crystal Palace for winger Ismaïla Sarr. They are also actively seeking a replacement for goalkeeper Pau Lopez, who is set to join Serie A side Como who recently confirmed Cesc Fabregas as their permanent manager.

While Arsenal has obviously not officially commented on the reports, the move seems imminent. Nketiah’s departure would mark another significant change in Arsenal’s attacking lineup this summer and the biggest indication yet that another attacker will arrive this summer.