Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah is on the verge of completing a transfer to Crystal Palace, with the South London club close to securing a £25 million deal, plus an additional £5 million in potential add-ons, for the 25-year-old striker.

With no expected hurdles in personal terms, Nketiah is preparing to join Palace for the ongoing 2024/25 season. Crystal Palace, having pursued the striker throughout the summer, engaged in talks with Arsenal earlier in the transfer window.

Nketiah, who has been linked with a move away from the Emirates this summer, was initially expected to join Marseille, but negotiations fell through when the French club failed to meet Arsenal’s valuation. A subsequent potential transfer to Nottingham Forest also collapsed despite an agreement between the two clubs.

Struggling to secure first-team opportunities at Arsenal, Nketiah has not made a competitive appearance this season, although he signed a new contract with the club in June 2022, extending his stay until 2027. Even with Gabriel Jesus injured, Nketiah’s playing time has remained limited.

At Selhurst Park, Palace is looking to reinforce their attack following Jordan Ayew’s move to Leicester City. Manager Oliver Glasner is keen to add depth alongside Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odsonne Edouard before the transfer window closes on Friday. Mateta, who enjoyed a strong 2023/24 season with 19 goals in 39 appearances, might be joined by Nketiah, with reports suggesting that Palace could fund the purchase by selling Edouard, who is reportedly of interest to his former club Celtic.

As the transfer deadline nears, Palace is also intensifying their pursuit of Wolfsburg’s Maxence Lacroix and maintaining interest in Wolves’ Rayan Ait Nouri, as Glasner seeks to bolster his squad following a challenging start to the 2024/25 campaign.