(Football news) According to reliable reports, Arsenal are one step away from officially renewing Eddie Nketiah's contract. His current deal expires at the end of the season but he will soon sign a new long term deal. The club has always wanted to keep the player but there are multiple factors which have delayed an agreement. Nketiah's recent performances have definitely helped in the negotiations. Nketiah had been stalling a contract renewal and had publicly admitted that he wanted to play regular football.
In January, Arsenal blocked advances of Newcastle, West Ham and Watford to keep him at the club. The departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the dip in Alexander Lacazette made Nketiah a regular for the team. He became a part of Arsenal's youth project and soon started delivering the goods. He scored 5 goals in the last 6 games of the season to win Mikel Arteta's trust. His performances led Arteta to admit his mistake by saying “If there is one player that I have been unfair with I think it’s him [Nketiah]. He has given me every right to do something different, and if Eddie doesn’t play more, it’s my fault and because as a manager I missed something or I haven’t had the courage to play him more. Today he showed me more how wrong I was.”
Nketiah has reportedly rejected offers from a number of Premier League and Bundesliga clubs to commit his future to Arsenal. Lacazette is almost guaranteed to leave the club after his contract runs out. The Gunners will definitely need a striker in the summer to give Nketiah some competition. There have been heavy links with Gabriel Jesus but the absence of Champions League football will be a big barrier in the negotiations. The fact that Nketiah has agreed to sign an extension shows that he has been guaranteed minutes by Arteta next season which could mean that Arsenal don't sign a big name. Arsenal need to get into the Champions League spot next season and eye for a cup trophy as well. It is going to be a very crucial campaign and by the looks of it Nketiah is going to be right at the heart of it.
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