Report: Arsenal striker to make surprise move to French club

In an interesting twist in transfer strategy, Olympique de Marseille are eyeing Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah as a possible reinforcement for their squad. As reported by Foot Mercato, the French club, under the leadership of new coach Roberto De Zerbi, are leaning towards English talent following recent interest from the English Serie A.

Pablo Longoria, Marseille’s sporting director, appears to have shifted his focus to the Premier League, despite the club’s recent hiring of an Italian coach. This change of direction is likely due to De Zerbi’s intimate knowledge of the English market thanks to his time at Brighton. “After a long focus on Serie A, Longoria is bringing an English accent to his talent scouting activities,” notes Foot Mercato, highlighting a strategic shift in Marseille’s recruitment philosophy.

Eddie Nketiah, 25, seems open to new horizons and Marseille could offer just that. Nketiah, like fellow contender Mason Greenwood, has only one cap and his England experience could be invaluable for Marseille. He got more playing time last season and started 10 times in the Premier League. “Nketiah has been Arsenal’s luxury wild card in recent seasons and now he could be putting his cards on a new deck,” reported Foot Mercato.

Initial talks between Marseille and Nketiah have reportedly started well. It is not the first time Marseille have approached Arsenal about a talent; their last acquisition was Mattéo Guendouzi in 2022, a move that has benefited both sides. Current talks with Nketiah may still be in the early stages, but the prospects seem promising.

As Marseille continue to build a competitive team under the leadership of De Zerbi, the signing of a player like Nketiah could mark a significant shift towards using Premier League experience to strengthen the lineup. If these negotiations are successful, this could be another successful Premier League import for the Phocéens, combining young talent with experienced strategic play.