Leicester in talks to sign Arsenal winger - report
- Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson unable to command regular place in Mikel Arteta's side
- Talks thought to be underway over loan with obligation to buy
- 24-year-old has previous experience of playing in Germany and the Netherlands
Leicester City are reported to be in talks with Arsenal over a loan deal for Reiss Nelson which would include an obligation to buy.
The 24-year-old signed a new four-year contract at the Emirates Stadium last summer but played just 257 minutes of Premier League football during 2023/24, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard the preferred options for manager Mikel Arteta.
Nelson has been linked with a move away from Arsenal since the summer transfer window opened, with West Ham United among the sides taking an interest.
Fabrizio Romano reports that newly-promoted Leicester are the club to have opened talks with Arsenal over a potential loan deal, leading to an obligation to buy if the two teams can agree a suitable financial package.
It's believed the Foxes are hoping to lean on Nelson's previous dealings with new boss Steve Cooper – the pair having worked together at England youth levels – and the offer of regular first-team football is also likely to be a key factor in negotiations.
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Leicester have signed Bobby De Cordova-Reid this summer and have also been linked with Juventus' Matias Soule, indicating their desire to strengthen out wide, though the signing of Nelson would provide a player with Premier League experience as well as expanding the club's homegrown quota.
Nelson made his Arsenal debut during the 2017/18 season but has played just 49 Premier League games for the club in seven years, spending seasons out on loan at TSG Hoffenheim and Feyenoord.
His latter spell in the Netherlands led to a reintegration into Arsenal's first-team setup, though the majority of his minutes came in the Europa League as Arteta looked to afford his regular starters a rest during the competition's group stage.
Nelson may not be the only forward leaving Arsenal this summer. Fellow academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe is a transfer target for Fulham, while Eddie Nketiah, who like Nelson signed a new long-term contract in the hope of being given regular minutes by Arteta, has been strongly linked with a move to Ligue 1 sleeping giants Marseille.
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