Arsenal remain firmly in the race to sign Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze as they seek to strengthen their attack this summer. The Gunners identified the 27-year-old as a priority target, with the player reportedly keen on a switch to the Emirates.
Eze, who has a £67.5 million release clause in his contract running until 2027, impressed last season with 14 goals and 11 assists across 43 appearances. He also scored the decisive goal in Palace’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal are the frontrunners for his signature and are edging closer to a deal. The North London club are open to meeting his release clause but are negotiating a structured payment plan to reduce the upfront fee.
Journalist Graeme Bailey reports that Palace are willing to accept instalments — with an initial payment of £25-30 million, followed by £30-35 million spread across further payments, alongside performance-related bonuses.
Palace’s hopes of retaining Eze have also taken a blow after UEFA ruled them out of next season’s Europa League due to multi-club ownership conflicts involving investor John Textor.
When asked about his future last year, Eze remained open-minded, saying his focus is on improving as a player and accepting whatever the future holds, whether at Palace or elsewhere.
