Arsenal are still hoping to avoid paying Eberechi Eze’s release clause to sign the Crystal Palace midfielder this summer, according to a report.
Though Eberechi Eze has a release clause in his Crystal Palace contract, Fabrizio Romano reports that the original plan Arsenal expressed to the player’s camp was to try and reach a different agreement with his club.
Given the Gunners don’t currently intend to activate the release clause, a potential sale will depend on Palace’s willingness to negotiate.
Romano reiterates that Arsenal are “for sure” still working on the deal on the player’s side, even after agreeing a fee to sign Noni Madueke from Chelsea. All the reporting has pretty consistently suggested those two deals are not related.
This new report follows a similar claim from Ed Aarons of The Guardian that Arsenal are expected to step up their attempts to sign Eze, planning to make contact with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish to discuss a potential move.
But Aarons reports that Parish is unlikely to consider any offers below the player’s £67.5m release clause, and Arsenal evidently hoping to pay less.
Eze has two years left on his deal, so he’s not quite in a position to force a transfer, but Palace may want to cash in while they still have the chance.
Sami Mokbel previously confirmed for the BBC that Palace representatives had been made aware of Arsenal’s interest in Eze, but the Gunners are yet to make an official bid.