It is no secret at this point that Arsenal would like to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace.
The Gunners’ defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong showed that they still need help in the final third, and there aren’t many elite right-footed attacking midfielders on the market.
Arsenal have identified Eze as an option for their squad, and everyone in the industry has felt that a bid will go in to sign the Crystal Palace star.
Now, Andrea Berta has decided how he wants to package the deal.
Crystal Palace know very well that they have a valuable asset in Eberechi Eze.
The Englishman is not just a tremendous player for them on the pitch, but he is also someone who could make them a lot of money if they sell him.
Palace inserted a release clause when they last extended Eze’s contract, and that was worth a total of £68 million. However, that clause expired on Friday night.
Now, all negotiations must go through the Eagles, and Football Transfers have revealed that Berta is preparing his first bid to sign Eze.
It has been claimed that Arsenal are planning to make a £52 million offer, including add-ons, next week for the England international, who has entered the final two years of his deal.
£30 million of that overall package will be offered upfront, with the remaining £22 million set to be paid over the next two years.
Crystal Palace, however, will not be happy with that proposal because their valuation of Eze is significantly higher.
Crystal Palace have been adamant all along that they would not entertain any offers for Eze below his release clause.
That was set at an initial £60 million plus another £8 million in future add-ons.
That clause has now expired, and Graeme Bailey revealed on TBR Football that Palace want a figure higher than Eze’s release clause in order to let him leave.
That stance is unlikely to have changed the day after his clause expired, which is why we think Palace will be annoyed if Arsenal go in with an offer of £52 million in the coming days.
We expect that bid, should it be tabled, to be rejected.
