: Eberechi Eze wants to join Arsenal after the Gunners launched a move for the Crystal Palace playmaker, reports The Athletic ️. ©️ Chuie Mungai

Arsenal set to beat Tottenham to £68m Eberechi Eze transfer as agreement struck

Tottenham had appeared to be in pole position to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, but Arsenal have returned to the fray after Kai Havertz suffered a knee injury

Eberechi Eze could be leaving Crystal Palace for

Arsenal have hijacked Tottenham’s move for Eberechi Eze after making it clear they will pay Crystal Palace’s asking price while agreeing terms with the midfielder.

‌

The Gunners have not hidden their admiration for Eze, but had backed away from the Palace attacking midfielder in recent weeks, apparently leaving Spurs in pole position to sign him. But an injury to Kai Havertz has prompted an abrupt return to the race for the England international.

‌

Havertz missed training on Wednesday with a knee injury, and while Arsenal are yet to get a full picture of the issue, they have moved quickly in the transfer market. Having reportedly considered a move for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, they have now moved swiftly for Eze.

‌

Palace chairman Steve Parish and his Tottenham counterpart Daniel Levy have been locked in talks over a deal for Eze, but they have been gazumped. Eze has always preferred to join Arsenal – the club where he spent time in the academy – and that proved crucial.

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Isak replacement bid, Arsenal to hijack Spurs’ Eze dealREAD MORE: Arsenal ‘ponder blockbuster Morgan Rogers transfer bid’ after Kai Havertz injury blow

The Athletic reports that, having previously baulked at the £68million asking price, Arsenal have now indicated they will pay up a fee which matches the release clause in Eze’s contract which expired on Friday. Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and vice-chairman Tim Lewis worked quickly to reach an agreement, which will see Eze undergo a medical after playing one final time for Palace in their Conference League play-off match against Fredrikstad on Thursday.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is keen to add creativity to his squad after losing James Maddison to a serious knee injury. But Palace’s insistence that nothing be sorted before their Conference League play-off match ended up scuppering their chances.

Article continues below

Our daily newsletter sends you the latest headlines from the Mirror

Subscribe

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info

Spurs appeared increasingly desperate on Wednesday evening as reports emerged that they were willing to include Richarlison as part of a swap deal for Eze. The Daily Mail reported that Frank would wave goodbye to the striker who scored twice in their 3-0 win over Burnley on the weekend before trying to replace him with Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who has been the subject of rejected bids from Newcastle.

Eberechi Eze had been edging towards a move to Tottenham(Image: Getty Images)

That speculative eventuality proved fruitless with Arsenal beating their rivals to the signature of one of the Premier League’s most exciting players.

‌

The Gunners have already spent over £200m to sign Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga. They have struggled to offload unwanted players, but have seen their hand forced by Havertz’s injury, which leaves them short up front.

Eze has made 167 appearances for Palace since joining the club from Queens Park Rangers in 2020 in a deal worth £17m. The 27-year-old is keen to move back to Arsenal, the club he supported as a boy, where he will play in the Champions League and potentially challenge for the Premier League title.