Since July, Arsenal’s sporting mastermind Andrea Berta has been quietly engineering the departures of several senior players to free up funds for a major summer coup. One of the Gunners’ prime targets is Crystal Palace’s dynamic midfielder, Eberechi Eze, whose valuation was communicated to Arsenal over a month ago.

Sources reveal that while Tottenham Hotspur are also circling, Eze’s heart leans towards Arsenal — but only if both North London giants match Palace’s asking price. With the clock ticking and transfer dominoes set to fall, the Emirates hierarchy is intensifying their push to land the England international.