Eberechi Eze may well be the reason why Arsenal star Eddie Nketiah is set to join Crystal Palace over Nottingham Forest.
The Eagles have had a very good window under Oliver Glasner this summer, and they are not done just yet. They are still active on deadline day.
The one signing everyone at Selhurst Park is waiting for is Nketiah, who is expected to become a new Crystal Palace player before the window shuts.
The Daily Mail have now suggested that this move probably wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for Eze.
How Eberechi Eze has helped Crystal Palace in their pursuit of Eddie Nketiah
Crystal Palace have admired Arsenal star Nketiah for a long time.
The Eagles had been interested in signing the English striker since Roy Hodgson had been in charge, and it looks like they will finally get the deal over the line today.
Nketiah has been a wanted man in this window. He has attracted a ton of interest within the Premier League and also abroad – Marseille were really keen to sign him.
The other team who were close to landing Nketiah was Nottingham Forest and a deal even looked imminent at one point recently.
However, Nketiah rejected Forest and has agreed to join Crystal Palace, and that’s all because of his good mate Eze.
The Daily Mail claim that Eze ‘was at the heart of’ Crystal Palace hijacking Nottingham Forest’s move to sign Nketiah in recent days.
Right after he heard that the Arsenal star was of interest to Palace, he jumped in to convince him to move to Selhurst Park.
It has been revealed that the two players share a close relationship off the pitch, and the prospect of staying in London and playing with Eze convinced Nketiah to pick Palace.
Triple boost for Crystal Palace on deadline day
Palace should be really happy with the way this summer transfer window has gone.
Yes, fans would always want more, but Glasner has strengthened his side very well, and more importantly, he seems to be about to keep hold of two key players.
Eze looks all set to stay, while Newcastle United’s move for Marc Guehi, even though it’s not 100% off, seems extremely unlikely at this stage.
If Palace can add Nketiah and keep hold of Guehi and Eze beyond the 11:00 pm transfer deadline, it would give them a triple boost ahead of their game against Chelsea on Sunday.