In a recent report, The Sun offered an update on the future of former West Ham United target and Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah. It has been revealed that the English striker is stalling on a new contract with the Gunners which means that the Hammers could potentially land him on a free transfer at the end of this campaign.
Nketiah’s Inconsistent Season At The Emirates Stadium
Nketiah had an up and down campaign with the North London outfit last season but managed to catch the eye at times by producing a few important goal-scoring displays as the focal point of Mikel Arteta’s attack. The 22-year-old banged in six goals and secured one assist in 29 appearances for the Gunners last season across all fronts.
The London-born frontman struggled to earn regular game time in league football which explains why he could only average 0.7 shots, 0.5 key passes and 0.4 dribbles per 90 minutes in the last Premier League campaign. Still, he deserves credit for being tidy when distributing possession in the final third, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 82.4% in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
The English youngster has got less than a year remaining in his current deal with Arsenal, so he will be free to reach a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club when the transfer window reopens in January.
Should The Hammers Move In For Nketiah?
Nketiah is a quick and agile forward who can make a few driving runs with the ball in the opposition half. He has a knack for creating space to get a few shots in at goal and can be a composed finisher in front of the opponent’s goal when he is playing regularly on the pitch.
However, first-team starts have been at a premium for the English talent at Arsenal, so the player could be tempted with the chance to seal a move away from North London in search of more game time in January or when he becomes a free agent next summer.
At the moment, West Ham have got Michail Antonio as their only first-team forward. Therefore, David Moyes has to ensure that he can find a suitable backup for Antonio in January. Nketiah fits the bill perfectly as he has some Premier League experience and could potentially be available for a cut-price fee in January. With all things considered, the Hammers should consider reigniting their interest in the Arsenal marksman and move in for him during this winter transfer period.
