Which club would Eddie Nketiah do best at?

Nketiah


By Jonny Bray

It looks almost certain that Eddie Nketiah will be leaving Arsenal this January.


The 22-year-old has been on the radar of several clubs from a young age, but after failing to break into 

Mikel Arteta’s first-team plans, it looks as if this will be the window where he finally departs North London.


The Gunners can get good money for the forward, and several clubs have made it abundantly clear that they’re keen on signing him.


Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Newcastle United are the current front-runners for Nketiah’s signature.


Some have called for him to stay, but after his performance in Arsenal’s loss against Nottingham Forest, I think it’s become clear that he isn’t up to the standard needed to play regularly at Arsenal.


However, it feels like he could thrive as the main man or even first-choice sub at another club.


There are pros and cons to joining all three clubs, but this is a crucial decision for Nketiah, whose career could rest on this next move.


But which club would he do best at?


 

Crystal Palace

 

On paper, Crystal Palace are the perfect fit for Nketiah.


He’d be managed by Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, whose style of play would suit the hard-working, quick forward.


It would also allow Nketiah to stay in London while also playing in a team filled with young English talent.


However, there’s been a few late twists in this seemingly never-ending transfer saga.


Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has just hit form for the Eagles and is now fighting to stay in South London.


It remains to be seen if the French loanee from German club Mainz 05 will sign permanently for Palace, but if he does, that will all but end any chance of Nketiah joining the Eagles.


He would suit the Eagles’ new style of play perfectly, but Palace fans seem increasingly fond of the inconsistent Mateta after he scored goals away at Millwall and Brighton and Hove Albion.


Nketiah

 

Leeds United

 

With Patrick Bamford struggling for fitness in Yorkshire, now could be the perfect time for Nketiah to finally join Leeds United on a permanent deal.


Bielsa’s Leeds have been long-term admirers of Nketiah, who has the pressing ability needed to thrive in the Argentinian’s team.


He’s been linked with a permanent move to Leeds with semi-regularity since making 17 appearances on loan at the club during the 2019/20 Championship season.


And although previous attempts to sign him have fallen through, he could prove to be precisely what Bielsa needs to get his team’s campaign back on track.


 

Newcastle United

 

The final club closely linked with signing Nketiah’s is Newcastle United.


The Magpies are set to go on a spending spree to start 2022 after becoming the wealthiest club in world football towards the end of 2021.


Callum Wilson is injured, so a striker is relatively high up on the wish list in the North East.


Some might say Newcastle have their eye on another Arsenal striker, with numerous articles in the press linking Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a move to St James’ Park.


But Nketiah seems the far more likely option and is the safer option considering Aubameyang’s wages and price tag.


 

Conclusion

 

Nketiah’s future remains unclear ahead of a crucial month for the youngster.


If I were him, I would sign for Newcastle United because he should be given a real opportunity to shine there.


At Palace, he might end up as a sub if they choose to play with more of a target man such as Christian Benteke, while at Leeds, he’d be comfortable second choice behind Bamford.


With Newcastle, he can settle while Wilson is out injured, giving him the chance to make the centre forward role his own.


Photo Credit: Getty Images

Popular posts from this blog

What have we learned from Arsenal's pre-season so far?

Image
  Arsenal – what have we learned from pre-season? By Jack Lacey-Hatton It only feels five minutes since Euro 2020, but incredibly we are just one week away from the new Premier League season starting. Arsenal will travel to newly promoted Brentford for a London derby in front of a noisy crowd next Friday night, not the easiest of starts to the new campaign. But what sort of shape are Mikel Arteta’s side in, going into what could be a defining season for the manager? We took a close look at what we have learnt from the pre-season period and what kind of shape the squad are in.   The new signings are ready to go It has been a mixed transfer window so far. Some fans would have expected more both leaving and arriving at the Emirates stadium over the summer. But positives can be taken - Ben White has arrived from Brighton for £50million, and highly-rated full back Nuno Tavares has come in from Benfica. Albert Sambi Lokonga completes the 2021 summer singings so far. Cruc...
Read more

Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves

Image
Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves By Jonny Bray It is hard to believe that Ruben Neves is still only 25-years-old.   It feels as if the Portuguese international has been tipped for big things for nearly a decade now.  With the midfielder out of contract in 2023, it appears his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers could be coming to an end.  Understandably, with a player like Neves on offer for a reduced price, clubs around Europe are queueing up to secure the international's signature.  So, after all this time, should Arsenal move for Ruben Neves now, or is it time for the Gunners to turn their attention to a new target?  What would he bring?  Arsenal do not have enough defensive midfielders.  Martin Ødegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka give Mikel Arteta plenty of midfield options going forward, but the Gunners have been found lacking when out of possession this season. Thomas Partey has been in and out of the side due to injuries, a fact that has not hel...
Read more

Where will Arsenal finish this season?

Image
Where will Arsenal finish this season? By Alec McQuarrie Arsenal have made steady improvement over the last few seasons under Mikel Arteta. After finishing 8th in his debut season, the Spaniard oversaw a five-point improvement in his first full campaign.  And last year an eight-point leap followed, which was unfortunately not enough to pip Tottenham to fourth place.  Cruelly, the 69 points accumulated would have been enough to seal Champions League qualification in the previous two seasons.  Looking at the trajectory over the Arteta era, it would be fair to assume a continued improvement this coming season.  After all, with five signings already secured this summer and Alexandre Lacazette the sole first-team player to depart, surely fourth place should be a bare minimum expectation.  Oleksandr Zinchenko offers much-needed cover at left-back and competition for central midfield.  Gabriel Jesus is a proven goalscorer and brings a tireless work-ethic to fulfil...
Read more