Arsenal have reportedly rejected another bid from Crystal Palace for striker Eddie Nketiah.
The 22-year-old has just six months remaining on his contract at the Emirates Stadium and continues to be strongly linked with a move away in the coming days.
According to a report from Sky Sports, Crystal Palace have now launched a second offer for Nketiah this month, but once again, it has been turned down by the Gunners.
Nketiah has been a bit-part player at Arsenal this season, with the striker only making four Premier League appearances, but he did shine in the Carabao Cup - scoring five goals in as many matches in the competition.
If the Gunners do not offload Nketiah this month, then they risk losing him on a free transfer at the end of the season, unless the north London club can convince the centre-forward to sign a new contract.
However, even if he does leave at the end of his deal, Arsenal could still be in line for some compensation.
With Nketiah being under the age of 24, Arsenal would be in line for compensation from any English club that signs him on a free transfer. The amount would be up to the two clubs to decide on following Nketiah’s exit but regularly in the past an independent tribunal has been needed for an agreement to be reached.
What has Arteta said on Nketiah?
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has publicly spoken about his desire to keep hold of Nketiah beyond the expiration of his contract.
Speaking in October, the Gunners manager said this on his striker's future at the club: "We had a situation in the summer that we tried to resolve and we couldn't either way.
"That is the contract situation that is more and more common in football for where we are coming from with Covid and a lot of issues that we have to resolve.
"I have full belief that he is going to be a top, top player and hopefully at Arsenal. I am happy to have him, he is our player, I regard him really highly and from my side I want him to stay."
Arteta again addressed the Nketiah situation around two months later after the striker bagged a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup win over Sunderland in December.
He said: "I tell you every day that we want to keep Eddie. We see how he trains, that's what he does every day, he works so hard and puts the ball in the net every session.
"I am really delighted with him. Every time we have needed him, he has always responded."
