Arsenal respond to Crystal Palace's second transfer bid for Eddie Nketiah

Arsenal have reportedly turned down a second offer from Crystal Palace for Eddie Nketiah.

Nketiah, 22, has been with the Gunners since the age of 16, but speculation and uncertainty has been mounting over the striker’s future given he is out of contract at the end of the season.

The England Under-21 international has grown frustrated with a lack of playing time under Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s attempts to tie him down with a new deal have so far proved unsuccessful.

The north London giants must therefore decide whether to cash in on Nketiah before Monday’s deadline or risk losing the forward on a free transfer in the summer.

Bayer Leverkusen have been credited with a strong interest, with Nketiah free to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign teams as of January 1, and Newcastle have also been monitoring the situation.

But according to Sky Sports, Crystal Palace have been pushing the hardest to coax Nketiah away from the Emirates as Patrick Vieira looks to strengthen his attacking options at the midway stage of the campaign.

The report claims Palace’s latest bid for Nketiah was swiftly rejected, though. It remains to be seen if the Eagles test Arsenal’s resolve with a third offer before the January window slams shut.

Nketiah – the all-time top scorer for the England U21s – has been limited to just four substitute appearances in the Premier League this season.

However, the youngster impressed in the Carabao Cup with five goals in five games before Arsenal’s elimination at the hands of Liverpool earlier this month.

Addressing the media earlier this month, Arteta insisted Arsenal had no intention of cashing in on Nketiah.

‘I’ve already spoken about Eddie, how I feel about him, the intentions of the club,’ the Arsenal head coach told reporters.

‘He’s with us and every day he shows me that he wants to stay with us.’

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