Arsenal reluctant to allow Eddie Nketiah join West Ham in January
Arsenal are reluctant to allow Eddie Nketiah to join West Ham during the January transfer window, according to ExWHUemployee.
The reliable Hammers insider claimed on the West Ham Way Patreon on Tuesday afternoon (25 January) that the Gunners do not want to strengthen a direct rival for the top-four places, hence, their unwillingness to sanction a move to the London Stadium outfit.
The England youth international, 22, is out of contract at the end of 2021-22 and will be available on a free by then, and it appears Arsenal will prefer to see him leave for nothing by summer than do business with the Irons this month.
Understandable
The North London side are currently sixth in the table, with 36 points to their name after 21 games.
West Ham are in fifth place with 37 points after 23 games, and given the fierce battle between both sides for the Champions League places, Arsenal are not ready to boost the Hammers’ top-four chances.
Nketiah is yet to start a Premier League game for Mikel Arteta’s side this season, coming off the bench four times and featuring six times across other competitions – where he has scored five goals.
David Moyes is a fan of the Englishman, and while Michail Antonio remains West Ham’s first-choice, Nketiah would get his chances should a move work out.
That has to wait until summer from the look of things, but their chances of landing him by then could become very slim.
He will not be short of suitors once he becomes a free agent, and that could make things difficult for the Irons.
They could really do with a quality cover for the Jamaican international during the second half of the campaign, but they do not have a lot of time left in the window.
In other West Ham news, an amazing attacker is making personal arrangements for Hammers switch in January.
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