Arsenal are ready to sanction Eddie Nketiah’s departure to Marseille on loan with an obligation to buy for a fee in the region of €30million.
Personal terms are in place on a five-year deal, as The Athletic reported last month, and the ball is now in Marseille’s court to decide whether or not to proceed.
New Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi is driving the pursuit, and the 25-year-old is keen to join the Ligue 1 side.
Marseille had made an improved offer worth close to €20million (£16.8m) in July, nearer to the formula Arsenal wanted for the forward, and the clubs had remained in conversations.
Nketiah signed a new five-year contract at Arsenal in June 2022, just as he had been about to become a free agent.
His opportunities to play as a main striker under Mikel Arteta have been limited by the arrivals of Gabriel Jesus and, more recently, Kai Havertz, who has become the club’s first-choice striker.
Nketiah featured 37 times for Arsenal last season, scoring six goals. He did, though, only start 10 Premier League games and was an unused substitute for Arsenals’ final six league matches as they pushed Manchester City for the title.
Nketiah also made his senior England debut last term, coming off the bench in a friendly against Australia in October. He remains eligible to represent Ghana as he has yet to make a competitive England appearance.
(Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
