July 10th 2024.
It seems that Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, may be facing the loss of one of his key players. Reports have surfaced that Marseille has expressed interest in signing Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, just one day after securing a deal for Manchester United's Mason Greenwood.
Nketiah, who made 37 appearances and scored six goals last season, mostly served as a substitute. However, he did have a brief period as a starter earlier in the season, which even earned him his first call-up to the England national team. Unfortunately, his playing time has dwindled since then, with his last Premier League start dating back to December.
As Arsenal is looking to bring in new players this summer, Nketiah is one of the names on the list of potential players to be sold for funds. French outlet Foot Mercato has reported that Marseille is among the clubs interested in the 25-year-old Englishman and has already reached out to him about a possible transfer. Nketiah is said to be intrigued by the opportunity and there is also expected to be interest from other Premier League clubs.
Under the leadership of new manager Roberto De Zerbi, Marseille is determined to revamp their squad after a disappointing season that saw them miss out on European competitions. Along with Nketiah, the club is also in talks to acquire Greenwood for a fee of €31.6million from Manchester United.
While the deal for Greenwood is progressing, personal terms have yet to be agreed upon. De Zerbi has praised the 22-year-old as a "world-class player," but not everyone is happy with the potential transfer. Marseille mayor Benoit Payan has expressed his disapproval, urging the club's chief executive to reconsider the deal due to Greenwood's past behavior.
Greenwood, who spent last season on loan at Getafe, was arrested in January 2022 on charges of attempted rape, controlling behavior, and assault. However, these charges were later dropped. Mayor Payan believes that someone with such a history should not be a part of the Marseille team, as it goes against the values of the club.
He states, "Olympique de Marseille is more than just a club, it is a spirit. And there is no place for those who behave in such a manner, who commit such crimes and offenses. It is unacceptable and unbearable. I implore Pablo Longoria not to sign Greenwood. We do not want our club to be associated with the shame of someone who has abused his wife."
It remains to be seen what decision Marseille will make regarding both Nketiah and Greenwood, but it is clear that their interest has caused quite a stir. Fans of both clubs and the general public will be closely watching to see how this situation unfolds.
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