Arsenal are interested in the signature of Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze, but any deal will now be done outside his release clause. Following a summer spending spree that has seen six players join so far, the Gunners are poised for one more arrival. Arsenal have identified the England international as a player who could bolster their forward line along with the midfield. The parameters of a potential deal have been explored by the Gunners, while personal terms are not expected to be an issue. It is widely believed there is a £68 million buy-out clause embedded in the player’s contract, but according to the latest developments, any deal will now be done outside that figure.
Palace protected as clause expires
The BBC reports that the release clause will expire two weeks before the start of the new season, adding another layer of protection for Crystal Palace. With this in mind, the clause expires today, August 1st, as the new season commences on the 15th August. This will come as a boost to Oliver Glasner’s side considering their desire to hold onto a prized asset. The Eagles will now have the power to charge more than £68 million in a move to deter interest from the Gunners and other interested parties. At first glance, it may come as a blow, but the report also stated that Arsenal value him below the release clause. Chairman Steve Parish may also be forced to lower his valuation in fear of the player running his contract into the final year. Along with the Gunners, Tottenham, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all been linked with the 27-year-old.
Arsenal must sell to buy
Arsenal’s ability to get a deal over the line will not solely depend on the asking price. They will need to make room and free up funds by moving a few players on. Over £200 million has been spent on transfers thus far and even though they are in a strong position with regards to PSR, the focus will be on spending within their means. Players such as Fabio Vieira, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Reiss Nelson and Albert Sambi Lokonga are all in line to depart, while first team regulars Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have been heavily linked with a move away.
Coming back to Eze, could the expiration of his release clause be a blessing in disguise?
Benjamin Kenneth
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Arsenal should not pay more than £50 – 55m for Eze. He is 27 and is more a luxury than an absolute necessity.
I agree. But I think it’s just the 2 of us out of the entire fan base.
My view of the squad is that it is woefully unbalanced in favour of forward thinking flair players, we need more ball winners on rotation as it’s the ball winners who put their bodies, heads and bones on the line all the time.
Forget Eze, get Douglas Luiz in.
Looks like it’s now put up or shut up time for Arsenal’s pursuit of Eze. It appears that there are other clubs interested so playing a waiting game may not work.
If Arsenal really aren’t that committed to getting him, or not at the price that Palace are likely to ask anyway, then they should move on to other targets (if there are any).
Yes, but what sort of targets? Where is this squad actually weakest on rotation depth?
We got close to the title twice with 4 centrebacks across the back – Mancies won consecutive titles with this tactic Arteta copied. But let’s be wide awake here – Arteta has changed it. Arteta has switched to a 2 7 1 formation where firstly many of the 7 midfielders do not possess the defensive mind and skill sets to help the number 6 and defence, and secondly they are all, including keeper playing as a sweeper, told to play a high wide line with quick and risky passing out from the back. Thirdly Zoob is not in career been a great defensive 6 – he is a good receiver and distributor of the ball, a tempo maker – but it does mean we changed the 6 role from defensive screen to passer.
Now does this change from trying to win titles with meanest defence, to a 7 man midfield packed with flair, going to lead to not just success but the type of football us gooners will love?
Here’s the kicker, we can already answer this question. Arteta has been playing this way all through 2025 and these pre season friendlies – a struggle for clean sheets and home losses to Palace and Hammers, and the confused turgid display in defeat to Spurs, is what this new system is bringing us.
We do not need to sell before any additional acquisitions. We SHOULD make some sales/loans imo during this transfer window but are not being forced to.
Arsenal is in strong position with regards to PSR yet we need to focus on “spending within their means”? It was recently reported that KSE is the highest valued sports group in the world with KSE having plenty of wherewithal to do any deal it wants. Long story short, if we truly want him at whatever price/terms CP is willing to negotiate, then we can get him.
It’s not quite as simple as that though, is it. For a start, KSE aren’t giving Arsenal free money, rather they’re loaning Arsenal funds as and when needed.
Arsenal already has over £500m of debt on its books – a mixture of money (still) owed on the stadium and transfers. Also, the club hasn’t actually turned in a profit for the last six years (to 2023-24, the latest figures).
Now, it’s obviously down to Josh/Stan Kroenke to sanction all Arsenal spending (as they own the club outright) but given Arsenal have spent over £200m already this summer I imagine they are at least going to look at additional expenditure for Eze, or anyone else, but I strongly doubt they’ll agree to any player at any price, that’s plain daft and certainly not good business.
The article is correct, therefore, that Arsenal like any other business, and it is a business first, needs to spend within its means (not KSE’s means).
No, it is as basic as that. The pieces of the financial puzzle you mentioned are only pieces of a much larger picture which I understand all too well.