Sporting Life
Eddie Nketiah: Arsenal forward celebrates his double against Fiorentina in pre-season
Eddie Nketiah: Arsenal forward celebrates his double against Fiorentina in pre-season

Leeds United set to complete signing of Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah

By Sporting Life
Football
Wed August 07, 2019 · 5y ago

Leeds are poised to win the race for Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah.

The 20-year-old is expected to join the Sky Bet Championship club on-loan for the season, PA understands.

He will be a replacement for Kemar Roofe who joined Anderlecht for an undisclosed fee on Tuesday.

Bristol City were interested in Nketiah and had been front runners last month before Unai Emery felt the striker would stay at the Emirates Stadium this term.

But the Gunners have now decided to let him leave, despite impressive pre-season performances, ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline.

Marcelo Bielsa wants to add another forward to his squad

Leeds director of football Victor Orta has a good relationship with Emery and PA reports that he made a personal pitch to Arsenal for Nketiah on Tuesday.

The England Under-21 international has made 19 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners and has scored three times since making his debut in the Europa League clash against BATE Borisov in 2017.

He netted in Arsenal's final day 3-1 win at Burnley last season but is yet to start in the Premier League and was on the bench for the 4-1 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea in May.

Alongside Nketiah, Sporting Life understands that Leeds are expected to finalise a move for goalkeeper Illan Meslier from French Ligue 2 side Lorient.

Meslier will arrive on a season-long loan with the view to a permanent move. He's viewed as Bailey Peacock-Farrell's replacement following his switch to Burnley last week.

Deadline Day with Sporting Life

The transfer window shuts in England at 1700 BST on Thursday, August 8.

Keep across all the latest rumours and done deals on deadline day with our live blog on sportinglife.com/football and on Twitter with live updates and transfers as they happen.

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