Early on Tuesday, David Ornstein reported that Marseille are working on a deal to sign Ethan Nwaneri on loan from Arsenal for the rest of the season, and it is now being reported that Nwaneri has agreed to the deal.
First thing on Tuesday, David Ornstein reported that Marseille were in talks over a loan move for Ethan Nwaneri for the remainder of the season.
A few hours later, Ben Jacobs reports that Nwaneri has agreed to join Marseille with the move expected to complete in the next 48 hours, while Ornstein added, “Marseille reach agreement with Arsenal to sign Ethan Nwaneri on loan. #OM hope 18yo travels after #AFC game at Inter in #UCL, potentially Wed. Sizeable fee but reduces based on games [played]. Arteta drove move for attacker to work under De Zerbi.”
Any deal does not include an option to buy.
There was also interest from the Premier League and elsewhere in Europe, but Arsenal will not agree to any loan that opens the door to a permanent route out of the club.
Ornstein added that Marseille had emerged as the favoured destination after positive discussions involving head coach Roberto De Zerbi, Mikel Arteta and Nwaneri, with De Zerbi’s style of play a key factor in that preference.
Earlier this month, Arsenal rejected an attempt from West Ham United to land Nwaneri on loan, with the club reportedly prioritising maintaining squad depth for the second half of their title-chasing season.
The 18-year-old has remained on the fringes in the league despite last year’s breakthrough, but Arsenal’s view has always said to be that they are not about to weaken their options at a critical point in the campaign, particularly with the club still competing across four fronts.
That seems to have changed.
Football.london reported that West Ham were keen to explore a January loan, but Arsenal knocked back the approach despite the midfielder’s limited involvement in the Premier League this season, where he has yet to make a start.
Nwaneri has featured more regularly in other competitions, making his fourth start of the season in the FA Cup tie away to Portsmouth, a rare inclusion from the beginning in a competition often used to manage workloads and reward players outside the regular XI.
After that match, Mikel Arteta said Nwaneri’s lack of minutes has been down to competition for places. “He deserved that (chance),” Arteta said.
“Because of the strength of the squad and the players that are in the positions, he hasn’t been able to play. Today he’s done it, and I think he had some very good minutes.”
Nwaneri had also been linked with a possible loan move to AFC Bournemouth.
The midfielder has been included in Arsenal’s squad for their game against Inter Milan.