Arsenal are reported to be ready to sanction the departure of striker Eddie Nketiah as Marseille continue talks over his transfer.

Nketiah, 25, has 168 appearances for Arsenal to his name but has only started 38 Premier League games in his career, having spent most of his Gunners tenure operating as a backup option.

With Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz firmly ahead of him in the pecking order, Nketiah is now expected to leave Arsenal this summer and Ligue 1 outfit Marseille are chasing his signature, although a deal is not likely to be cheap.

Indeed, The Athletic state that Arsenal are looking for a fee of €30m (£25.7m) to part ways with Nketiah, having turned down a €20m (£16.8m) offer from Marseille earlier this summer.

To try and convince Marseille to meet their asking price, Arsenal are even thought to be prepared to accept a loan deal, as long as it includes an obligation to make the move permanent next summer.

Marseille have already agreed personal terms with Nketiah, who has a five-year contract waiting for him in France, but the Ligue 1 outfit must now decide whether to lodge an increased bid closer to Arsenal’s asking price.

New Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi is believed to be pushing for Nketiah’s arrival, despite having already bolstered his forward line with the signing of Mason Greenwood from Manchester United earlier this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has also joined Marseille on loan, with De Zerbi clearly leaning into his experience of life in the Premier League as he looks to construct his new squad.

As for Arsenal, reports continue to link the Gunners with a move for a new striker, with the likes of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres regularly touted as possible targets.

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