Eberechi Eze is on course to complete a dream switch to Arsenal after the attacking midfielder’s boyhood club gazumped their arch-rivals, Tottenham, at the last minute to agree a deal for the Crystal Palace star.
Eze, 27, is a Gunners fan and spent time in the club’s academy before being released at the age of 13. It’s taken 14 years, but the England star will soon finally pull on the famous red and white shirt of Arsenal following another stellar season in Crystal Palace colours.
And as if the FA Cup winner needed a further sweetener to the deal, there is every chance that Eze could land the iconic No 10 shirt that’s donned at both Palace and his previous club, QPR.
The shirt is currently vacant at Arsenal after the club sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham last summer. And the prospect of following in the footsteps of club legends such as Dennis Bergkamp would surely appeal to Eze once his dream move is finalised.
Arsenal have made their move for a player they were actively courting earlier in the summer in the wake of a knee injury sustained by Kai Havertz in their 1-0 win away at Manchester United on the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign.
While it is currently unclear how long the Germany international could be sidelined for, Eze’s creativity will aid an attack which has already been bolstered by the captures of Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres this summer.
Prior to Arsenal’s late hijack, Eze was expected to start in Crystal Palace’s Europa Conference League opener on Thursday night following talks over a deal with Tottenham. He missed the 1-0 win over Fredrikstad, however, with Oliver Glasner saying Eze reported in ill a few hours before the game.
Post-match, Glasner and Palace’s chairman, Steve Parish, confirmed Eze would be leaving the club. The latter said: “We have to move past it. He has been fantastic for the club and we all love him for what he’s done and what he’s achieved, and we are pleased he will go on to fulfil the other ambitions that he’s got.”
