Arsenal edging closer to completing £60million move for Eberechi Eze

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Eberechi Eze’s £60million transfer from Crystal Palace to Arsenal could be confirmed as early as this weekend, the PA news agency understands.

It is believed the finishing touches on a deal to sign the 27-year-old, which catapults Arsenal’s spending to beyond £250m, are all but completed.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner revealed Eze, who was missing from his squad for their Conference League play-off at Selhurst Park, rang his manager on Thursday morning to say he could not play.

“Honestly I expected that he will start today for us, but he called me this morning and said he doesn’t feel well to play in the evening, and of course I have to accept it, and everything else you have to ask the chairman,” said Glasner, speaking to Channel 5 ahead of their meeting with Fredrikstad – the Eagles’ first ever European tie.

“I have to accept it. If a player tells me he is not ready to play, then of course we had to (accept it). I called the player who starts instead, Justin Devenny, and that he is ready, because it’s my responsibility to prepare the players to play for us in the best way.

“And so it was quite busy. You don’t like to change your starting 11 on matchday, especially in this situation. It’s the first time in European football for Crystal Palace, but again, we have to deal with it, and so this is what we do in the best way.”

Eze is set to become Arsenal’s seventh signing of the summer after they moved to hijack Tottenham’s bid for the England international.

His stunning move to the Emirates accelerated this week following a knee injury sustained by Kai Havertz.

The Germany international came on as a second-half substitute in Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Manchester United, and completed the game, but he did not participate in the club’s open training session at the Emirates on Wednesday.

It is unclear how long Havertz, who is still being assessed, will face on the sidelines. But the hastiness to swoop for Eze is evidence Arsenal did not want to take any chances as Mikel Arteta – backed by sporting director Andrea Berta – bids to lead the north Londoners to their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Eze is now poised to follow striker Viktor Gyokeres (£55m), defender Cristhian Mosquera (£13m), midfielder Martin Zubimendi (£60m), goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5m), midfielder Christian Norgaard (£10m) and forward Noni Madueke (£48.5m) in making the switch to the Emirates.

Arteta will face the media at the club’s training ground on Friday to preview his side’s second match of the campaign, at home to Leeds on Saturday evening.

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