Arsenal officials are prepared to use Nketiah in a “huge” transfer target of £70m

After missing out on the Premier League title for the second season in a row, Arsenal are now set to show Eddie Nketiah the door to secure their £70m summer target.

Arsenal transfer news

The Gunners have already stolen the headlines once this week by finally agreeing a deal to sign Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, according to Fabrizio Romano. The defender looks set to join after a fine Serie A season followed by an impressive Euro 2024 campaign at an otherwise disappointing Italian side. With William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Calafiori likely to arrive soon, it can be argued that Mikel Arteta has a strong back line to call upon in the Premier League.

However, even with those three options to name, those in North London are still reportedly looking to add some more defensive reinforcements before the transfer window closes at the end of next month.

According to The Sunday Star, as reported by The Express, Arsenal's management are now ready to use Nketiah in a swap deal to sign Marc Guehi, who has been valued at £70m by Crystal Palace this summer. The England international was a consistent performer for the Three Lions at the Euros as they stormed to the final, where they suffered a setback against eventual winners Spain.

In the final two years of his contract at Selhurst Park, Guehi may have a tough decision to make soon. The Euros have done nothing but increase interest in his signature and Arsenal may have the perfect bargaining chip in Nketiah.

“Good” Guehi will complete Arsenal's defense

If Arsenal fans turn their minds back to the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, it was Saliba's injury that weakened their title-winning side as Rob Holding failed to fill the void left by the Frenchman. Now, however, with Calafiori on the way and reportedly interested in Guehi, the Gunners could start next season with four strong options left fighting for a place in Arteta's side. Suddenly, Saliba's injury wouldn't have caused so much panic two seasons ago.

Guehi earned a lot of praise at the Euros, including from fellow centre-back John Stones, who said of The Metro: “It's great, it's great. For him to come in, he's never felt the emotions of championship football before or this kind of games, all the different emotions that come with him that you've never experienced before. He's emotional. [it] good, his doing is good.”

At that time, the flip side of the deal will suit all parties. Nketiah is far from Arteta's first choice in Arsenal's current squad, even amid the striker's woes, and a move to Selhurst Park could quickly give him the Premier League starting spot he needs next season.