Arsenal are very close to completing the £65million transfer of Kai Havertz from Chelsea.
After failing in their opening bid, the Gunners finally reached an agreement with their London rivals earlier this week. Chelsea will receive £60million plus £5million in add-ons in a move that will see Havertz end his three-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
The announcement of the 24-year-old's arrival could come as early as next week. football.london understands his medical is expected to take place overseas this weekend and if all goes to plan, he could become the first new face at London Colney.
Havertz's arrival is viewed as the perfect one to bolster Mikel Arteta's attacking options for next season. Alongside a new midfielder and defender, a brand new forward has been suggested to be on the club's radar for some time.
Gabriel Jesus is expected to remain Arteta's first-choice centre-forward but with Champions League football returning to the Emirates Stadium next campaign, quality options outside the starting XI has been labelled a necessity.
And while the arrival is gradually gathering pace among supporters, it does leave Eddie Nketiah in limbo. The 24-year-old committed his future to the club last summer but only started 18 games from his 39 appearances.
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The majority of his appearances came as a result of Jesus' lengthy period out of action due to injury. Havertz's signing only trickles him down the pecking order.
And according to The Sun, Nketiah is said to be left unsettled by the imminent incoming transfer and could opt to leave Arsenal. A source has told the newspaper: "Eddie's at a key stage in his career. He feels he's now proved he can score goals at the highest level and the next step is to be playing week in week out.
"But the fact the club has decided to invest so heavily in another striker has left Eddie wondering if he really has a future at the club. There would certainly be no shortage of takers if he were to push for a move. Crystal Palace and West Ham are both near the front of the queue.
"Both clubs lack a 20-goal-a-season man which Nketiah believes he can be in the Premier League."
Palace and West Ham have both also been linked with Folarin Balogun. Like Nketiah, Balogun is facing a permanent move after impressing with Reims last season.
Should Havertz's medical go to plan and he does sign for the club, Arteta will have two strikers wanting out. It's unlikely Nketiah and Balogun will stay, leaving the Gunners scrambling for potential buyers.
