Arsenal line up Eberechi Eze bid as Viktor Gyokeres talks continue

Arsenal are developing a payment structure for a bid to sign Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze. The proposed deal would involve three instalments of £20m, totalling £60m, aiming to match Palace's payment terms and potentially allow the signing without requiring a substantial player sale this summer to comply with PSR rules.

Eze, whose contract runs until 2027 with a release clause around £60m plus bonuses, is understood to favour a move to Arsenal should he leave Selhurst Park. However, sources suggest Liverpool may also activate long-standing interest. No club has made a concrete approach to Palace yet.

Arsenal's summer budget was initially allocated for Martin Zubimendi, a forward (currently expected to be Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres), and potentially less expensive signings like Christian Norgaard. Further signings were expected to depend on outgoings, but the club is serious about signing Eze this summer.

Expenditure is partly dictated by the striker situation. Arsenal are negotiating with Sporting for Gyokeres, but the Portuguese club insists on a £70m total package. Arsenal have advanced on this deal due to frustrations with RB Leipzig over Benjamin Sesko. Leipzig is holding firm on an €80m fee for Sesko, despite Arsenal working on the deal for 18 months and previous expectations of a lower price. Sesko stayed last summer for £50m believing it aided his development.