Olympique de Marseille are closing in on a deal for Elye Wahi from RC Lens, seemingly bringing their pursuit of Eddie Nketiah to an end.

Lens' French forward #09 Elye Wahi celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group B first leg football match between RC Lens and Arsenal FC at the Bollaert Stadium in Lens, northern France, on October 3, 2023. (Photo by DENIS CHARLET / AFP) (Photo by DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images)
Lens’ Elye Wahi celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group B first leg football match between RC Lens and Arsenal FC at the Bollaert Stadium in Lens, northern France, on October 3, 2023. (Photo by DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images)

Fabrizio Romano reports that Olympique de Marseille are closing in on a deal to sign Elye Wahi from RC Lens, with an agreement now very close and the two clubs working on the final details.

Wahi has reportedly given the green light to the move and Marseille have offered a €25m fee plus add-ons to Lens.

Romano adds that Marseille didn’t want to match Arsenal’s proposed €30m package for Eddie Nketiah, suggesting they’ve opted to sign Wahi instead.

CARSON, CALIFORNIA: Eddie Nketiah heads the ball during the first half during a pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
CARSON, CALIFORNIA: Eddie Nketiah heads the ball during the first half during a pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

David Ornstein reported last week that Arsenal were ready to sanction Nketiah’s departure to Marseille, and they’d proposed a deal for a season-long loan with an obligation to buy in the region of €30m.

But the ball was then in Marseille’s court, and the Ligue 1 club were hesitant to accept that deal.

€30m (£25.7m) already represented a compromise from Arsenal, with previous reports suggesting the Gunners were holding out for £30m for the striker.

CARSON, CALIFORNIA: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal FC moves the ball against AFC Bournemouth during the first half during a pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
CARSON, CALIFORNIA: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal FC moves the ball against AFC Bournemouth during the first half during a pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Marseille were evidently hoping Arsenal would go even lower, particularly as Nketiah had already agreed a five-year contract with the club. It appears now that the move is off.

Nketiah made 37 appearances for Arsenal last season, though just 13 of those were starts. The striker has featured for the Gunners regularly in pre-season, with just under a week to go until the start of the new Premier League campaign.