Arsenal are reportedly poised to make an opening bid for Crystal Palace and England centre-back Marc Guehi, potentially securing a substantial ‘discount’ on the transfer.
The Gunners have been focused on bolstering their defense throughout the summer transfer window. Their primary target, Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori, is nearing a deal that will see Arsenal pay almost £40 million, with the 22-year-old set to sign a five-year contract.
Despite progress with Calafiori, Arsenal remain interested in Guehi, who has attracted attention from Manchester United and Liverpool after a standout performance for England at Euro 2024. Crystal Palace has set a £70 million price tag on Guehi, but Arsenal is exploring ways to negotiate this figure down.
According to the Sunday Star via The Daily Express, Arsenal is considering offering Eddie Nketiah in a cash-plus-player deal to reduce the fee. Palace has shown interest in Nketiah previously, and a move could provide the striker with regular playing time.
Arsenal’s sporting director Edu is looking to maximize the club’s return from Nketiah, with Marseille also showing interest in the homegrown talent. While a deal involving Nketiah could lower the transfer cost for Guehi, selling him to Marseille might bring in close to £30 million.
The Gunners have previously secured over £30 million for Folarin Balogun after an impressive loan spell, with their record sale being the £40 million Liverpool paid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain nearly seven years ago.
