Iconic number nine Alan Shearer is among several names to have heaped praise on Newcastle target Eddie Nketiah in recent years.
Report today claim the Magpies are eyeing up a move for the wantaway Arsenal striker, who has grown frustrated by a lack of opportunities in North London.
The Gunners' contract rebel could be available for a cut-price fee due to his current deal expiring at the end of the season.
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The 22-year-old has played just 51 minutes of Premier League football this season as he tries to reignite a career that has stalled since he burst onto the scene as a promising talent for England’s U21 setup.
ChronicleLive looks at the high-profile names that have backed Nketiah to score a bucket load of goals in his career…
Alan Shearer
Toon legend Shearer interviewed Nketiah for The Athletic in 2020 and believes his attributes can help him become a force in the penalty area.
After Nketiah broke his England U21 goalscoring record, Shearer wrote: “When I watch Eddie’s goals for the under-21s, I see a finisher (and I love the joy it brings him).
“I see someone who can score with his left and his right, who gets a lot of his goals from around the six-yard box.
“He’s not toweringly tall (about 5ft 9in) or muscular, so perhaps the role he is being asked to play is not a natural one, but it is certainly not an impossible task.
“The key point is that the good players, the best players, find a way to do it.”
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal boss Arteta has bullishly left Nketiah out of the Arsenal set-up for the majority of this season.
His decision is no doubt influenced by the youngster’s unwillingness to sign a new deal, with clubs outside of England already able to agree terms with the player.
However, the relationship between Arteta and Nketiah was not always so strained, with the Spaniard believing him to be a future Arsenal goal machine as recently as October.
He said: “I have full belief that he is going to be a top, top player and hopefully at Arsenal.
“I'm happy to have him, he is our player, I regard him really highly and from my side I want him to stay.”
Marcelo Bielsa
Nketiah went on loan to Leeds ahead of their Championship-winning season in 2019/20.
However, despite scoring three goals in his first five appearances, the striker struggled for minutes and his stint was cut short ahead of the Whites’ securing promotion.
Marcelo Bielsa criticised the player’s attitude ahead of their clash with Arsenal last season but did expect him to become a top forward.
“Nketiah arrived here because Leeds was the ideal place to grow, because it was me who was going to coach him,” he said.
“I know who I am and I don’t believe those messages. Everything around the transfer of Eddie was a lie, Nketiah came to play. In any way. He didn’t play and he left.
“I think that Nketiah is going to be one of the best English players.
“He was a starter twice, moving one player like Bamford, a great player and a day later he decides to leave the club."
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Thierry Henry
Gunners legend Thierry Henry highlighted the prospect's natural ability to score goals ahead of his loan switch to Leeds in 2019.
The Frenchman mentored Nketiah when he was developing in Arsenal’s U18 side.
“He is a great kid and was a pleasure to work with,” Henry said.
“He was always on time, listened hard and was a good worker, willing to learn and improve.
“He will always score goals, even when he’s 60. He is just a killer in the box, as he showed against Norwich.”
“He is just lethal in front of goal. He doesn’t need many chances. If that guy plays, he scores. Simple.”
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