Eberechi Eze’s Crystal Palace release clause expires sooner than previously thought, with the deadline on Friday, and Arsenal have no plans to activate it.
Despite recent reports suggesting Eberechi Eze’s release clause at Crystal Palace lasted until just before the start of the Premier League season, new claims have revealed that it actually expires much sooner.
Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that Eze’s release clause expires 14 days before the start of the Premier League season, meaning Friday, August 1st.
Ben Jacobs confirms for talkSPORT that the clause expires at 11:59pm on Friday, so Arsenal would have just hours to activate it.
Yet Jacobs adds that Arsenal are aware of the situation and have already informed Crystal Palace they have no plans to trigger the clause. The Gunners never intended to pay the full £68m anyway, valuing Eze at less than £60m.
With the 27-year-old player having less than two years on his contract, Arsenal clearly feel they can get a better deal.
Mokbel also recently reported that well-placed sources are indicating Arsenal would prefer to sell a forward before formalising their Eze interest with a bid.
With little progress on outgoings and multiple players seemingly up for sale, it may be a while before the Gunners can make their first offer if they maintain that stance.