Brighton and Palace want Arsenal striker

Brighton and Crystal Palace have both expressed an interest in signing Eddie Nketiah this month.

The 22-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season leaving him available to talk to other clubs, despite Mikel Arteta wanting to keep him.

The Gunners have reportedly offered the academy product numerous contract deals but the youngster has yet to agree to any.

Nketiah, who is England Under-21’s all-time top scorer, has only managed to feature in six games for Arsenal this season, which has played a major role in the striker’s decision not to sign a new contract with the club.

Nketiah has scored five times however, including a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Sunderland in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Both Palace and Brighton wanted to sign the striker last summer, with some reports suggesting he would have with Patrcik Vieira’s side had personal terms been agreed.

Vieira will try again this month with current loan forward Jean-Philippe Mateta unlikely to seal a permanent move to Selhurst Park from Mainz.

It could now be a case of when rather than if the youngster leaves Arsenal with Bayer Leverkusen also being touted as a possible suitor along with the Premier League duo.

Arteta would like for Nketiah to remain at Arsenal after shunning Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and knowing Alexandre Lacazette’s future remains unclear as well.