Arsenal Eye Eze as £68m Release Clause Nears Deadline

Eberechi Eze has been tipped to sign for Arsenal from Crystal Palace. (Image: Getty Images)

Arsenal have been busy improving Mikel Arteta's squad over the summer transfer window with six new arrivals through the door, but Eberechi Eze continues to be strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are understood to have wanted three attacking reinforcements this summer. Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke have both come in to bolster the forward line but there remains a feeling of unfinished business.

Eze is a player that has long been on the north Londoners' radar after impressing with Crystal Palace. After helping them win the FA Cup and breaking into the England set-up, the 27-year-old has been touted as one of the nation's most creative players.

Nwaneri contract impact

Academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri's new contract with the Gunners was announced on Friday with the versatile midfielder agreeing a new five-year deal.

What Palace have said

Palace will kick-start their 2025/26 season this weekend when they take on Liverpool in the Community Shield. Speaking ahead of the game at Wembley Stadium, Palace boss Oliver Glasner was asked if the playmaker would play for the club beyond the window.

However, the Austrian was unable to offer much assurance on his longer-term future. "He will play on Sunday, definitely," he told reporters.

Release clause deadline

If Arsenal decide they want to swoop in for Eze, they are running out of time to be in control of the fee they pay. Eze currently has a well-known release clause of £68million, a fee that would represent a decent deal.

However, it's understood that the release clause expires on August 15.

After that, Palace will be free to negotiate a fee - and exclusively on their terms.