Simon Jordan stunned by 'joke' £50m Arsenal transfer demand

25 June 2024 , 18:18

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Eddie Nketiah has scored just six goals this season (Image: Getty Images)

Simon Jordan was left gobsmacked at the £50million transfer fee Arsenal are demanding for Eddie Nketiah.

Arsenal came agonisingly close to supplanting Manchester City at the Premier League's summit last season, and many believe that the bolstering attack will be key to any Premier League title bid next season.

The recruitment of another forward could mean bad news for Nketiah. The forward has a contract running until 2027 but became an increasingly peripheral figure under manager Mikel Arteta last season.

The 25-year-old made 37 appearances across all competitions last season, managing a return of six goals. In the Gunners' final 12 matches of the Premier League season, Nketiah remained on the bench for all but three of them -- playing a total of 28 minutes in the 2-0 win against Luton, the 3-0 win against Brighton and the 2-0 loss to Aston Villa.

According to talkSport, Arsenal could be looking to sell the forward to make way for a transfer in the summer, with his contract worth reportedly in excess of £100,000-a-week. The Gunners would be looking to recoup around £50million for the Englishman.

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And despite Nketiah's quality, the valuation by Arsenal left Jordan stunned.

"Ultimately if you want to get £40million, you're better off asking for £50million," he said. "But is he worth £50million? Pfft, you've got to be joking haven't you?

"There's one thing paying for old rope but this is... you're stretching a bit far. He's not a £50m footballer, I mean, he's lucky to be a £30m footballer and on £100,000-a-week!"

Eddie Nketiah could leave Arsenal this summer (Getty Images)

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Nketiah joined Arsenal's academy after departing Chelsea at 14 years old. He made his senior bow in the Europa League in 2017 and scored his first goal for the club a month later. and scored his first goal for the club a month later. Altogether, Nketiah has made 168 appearances for Arsenal, providing 38 goals and seven assists.

The Gunners initially targeted Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko as their priority recruitment this summer, but the Leipzig striker signed a new contract with the German club on a bumper wage, removing the release clause that had tempted Arsenal and Chelsea.

Arsenal have been linked with Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres and VfB Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy as potential replacements, while Everton's Amadou Onana remains a top target to replace Thomas Partey.

Megan Feringa