Arsenal held a genuine interest in Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace this summer, though they didn’t follow it up with a bid for the player.
Charles Watts reports in the Daily Briefing that Arsenal were indeed one of the clubs with an interest in Eberechi Eze this summer, but that’s as far as things went.
It’s not entirely clear why Arsenal decided not to follow up on their interest, but they never made a bid. In the end, nor did anyone else, and Eze remains a Palace player.
Eze had a £68m release clause in his Palace contract this summer, but it expired part of the way through the window. According to recent reports, that clause will come into effect again in 2025.
Sami Mokbel reported that the price will remain the same, with a guaranteed £60m payment plus a further £8m due in add-ons, and Palace could also be open to negotiating a deal other than the release clause price.
Mokbel’s report linked Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United with interest in Eze.
Earlier in the summer, Ed Aarons wrote for The Guardian that Arsenal were also in the mix, along with Manchester City.
Eze actually spent time playing for Arsenal much earlier in his career, as an academy player. The Gunners let him go at the age of 13, and he admitted in 2021 that the decision left him in tears.
The versatile Palace midfielder can also play on the wings and made 31 appearances for his current club last season, scoring 11 goals and assisting six.
He’s kicked off the new season as a starter for Palace, scoring twice in four matches, and he made a couple of substitute appearances for England over the international break.