According to Fabrizio Romano, newly-promoted Leicester are trying to sign Reiss Nelson, initially on a season-long loan but with an obligation to buy the winger next summer.
Operating as a backup to Bukayo Saka, the 24-year-old has struggled for game time at Arsenal in the last couple of years and has informed the club he’s open to leaving even though he signed a new deal this time last year.
It was reported last week that Nelson had agreed personal terms with West Ham United so either those claims were wide of the mark or Leicester have stolen a march on the Hammers.
Romano says the Foxes are confident of persuading the player to move to the King Power citing a previous working relationship between Nelson and manager Steve Cooper. The two crossed paths at St George’s Park when Cooper oversaw England’s under-19s.
Nelson, who is valued in the region of £15 million, is currently in Los Angeles on the Gunners’ pre-season tour of the USA.
🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Leicester City open talks with Arsenal for Reiss Nelson.
Loan deal with obligation to buy, in talks over financial terms with Arsenal.
Leicester, confident they can persuade Nelson if the clubs come to terms as he previously worked with Steve Cooper. pic.twitter.com/9F8VGpMgau
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 24, 2024
Fellow Academy graduates, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah, are in a similar position. Crystal Palace are keen on the former while Marseille are chasing the latter.
Despite the speculation, Nketiah isn’t giving anything away about his future. Quizzed by the club’s in-house media team he used the opportunity to pass on his advice to the 12 youngsters who’ve been invited Stateside.
“Pre-season is really good for a lot of the lads who haven’t trained or played with us that much to show what they can do,” he said.
“It gives people opportunities to show themselves and get fit, so hopefully they can take them.
“It’s a platform, even for us now, to make our mark and start playing games regularly and get fit. I think there are a lot of examples of players who did well in pre-season and gone on to play and have minutes in the first team, so it’s a really good chance.
“I know what it’s like for the young kids coming through so I’m just trying to make them feel as comfortable as possible. We have a really good group of guys, everyone is really nice and welcoming and tries to make everyone feel good.”
Nelson, the ultimate nearly man for Arsenal.
I expect him to have a good next season elsewhere. Assuming the shock of actually playing regularly doesn’t break him!
42m for calafiori but no one will pay good money for a gifted attacker….must always be a loan with or without an obligation.lol…..we need to sell better…..
The players we’re selling all have question marks whether in their performance or injury history (or both). We’re also relatively at the top of the market meaning people know we’ll pay for what we need to get that edge. Anything is only worth what someone else is willing to pay so we can say we’re bad at selling but I don’t think we’re turning down offers for more money.
It’s all about the wages. You can’t compare the ins and outs like that, unfortunately. Think in terms of total cost for those buying from us — transfer fee + (for example) 3 years wage, not just the transfer cost alone.
The ultimate nearly Arsenal man for me will always be Vassiriki Abou Diaby…
Whilst i’m sure the club would love any reasonable offer for unwanted players, I wonder what effect all these loan with obligation deals have on this years spending?
I think there maybe be some way to kick the obligations in by a certain date to capture the financials during certain times from an accounting POV, or maybe we can manage as PSR does allow for 1-3 year flex within reason..
Regardless, spending constraints doesn’t seem to be an issue at this point in time .. it’s mostly been about finding the right players ..
Also we’re back in the CL in accounting terms, I believe. So the club can spend more.
I think whenn income is certain, you can choose to take the profit right away or whenn it’s realised (payed).
Another loan 🙁
Exactly what I think! We seem to be the only ones handing over money
Can’t we just sell!?
And Leicester fans are saying – ‘obligation to buy’ what if we go down! This is a good deal for us
Fucking loans, for fuck sake. Edu go on a course for sales or something.
Ha ha! Thanks. Made me laugh!
Quite sure it’s not Edu’s first choice. Most clubs have been hampered by PSR rules, unless they’re doing dodgy deals with other dodgy clubs to avoid said rules (read Everton and Chelsea)
Mate….firstly it’s not just Edu. There is an entire transfer team. Secondly, it’s a loan with an obligation to buy. It’s ok. Thirdly, other clubs are interested in Reiss from what I understand. Finally the value of a player is determined by how much a club (or clubs) are willing to pay. Look around, Edu doesn’t control market conditions. I don’t think a generic crash course in sales will solve anything.
We have “an entire transfer team”??
If a player is injured on loan, can he be sent back and the obligation terminated?
I say we start a pitchfork mob. Who’s with me??
I heard the pitchfork mob set out about a decade ago and are still in the field.
I’d join in, but I set fire to my pitchfork and waved it around wildly when xhaka didn’t play that well a few years ago and it burned to the ground
I prefer if we’re a tikki torch Mob personally. The light from the torch looks much better on my freshly cut perm and fade.
On that course there would be a whole module called ‘obligation to buy’ or did they not do that in your masterclass?
Also some of you can go on a ‘sense of humour bypass’ and ‘ sarcasm for beginners’ online course.
Need to do better.
Leicester won’t be able to afford to buy him if and when they’re relegated, so why is this even being considered?
The obligation part of this is kinda.. you know.. important / crucial?
Maybe it’s part of Arteta and Edu’s masterplan. By loaning these guys out to other Prem teams we make their teams stronger against everyone except us…? Cunning.
3D chess, he’s learned from Wenger. Dare I say “he’s done it again”.
Arsenal outgoings are as exciting to me as incomings
Another loan!? I’m furious. How can I keep supporting a team that frequently defers income into different accounting periods! It’s unbearable.
Go support BlackRock FC?
Not only that, this is a club that allows 16-year old kids to leave without getting a first-choice striker in return. Edu out. Also Mertesacker.
That was also a travesty. It’s almost like the players have free will. Edu needs to ensure that we own the immortal soul of every child who ever steps foot on Arsenal grounds, or he isn’t doing his job.
A loan with a buy obligation is not a loan. It’s a sale with payment deferred. We did that with Raya.
But that shouldn’t contain the RAGE!
Still unacceptable. Everyone should be fired. I don’t care if they’ve built a brilliant football team, these totally normal accounting practices that make no tangible difference to me as a fan keep me awake at night.
Angriest man on Twitter vibes.
Look, if you’re not constantly furious about the accounting practices at your football club, are you even a fan?
And what about the bbqing practices? That’s where the real fans are at.
Best comment today 🤣
Thank you! That needed to be said.
Well played sir
Hahah!! init!!
A sale would of course be preferable to a loan, but if we get £15m for an ex-academy player who only had 1 start and 250 minutes in PL last season, it’s very decent business.
It is a sale. It’s just Leicester wanting to kick the can the down the road in terms of financials and accounting. We did the same for Raya
Will Leicester be able to afford to purchase him when they’re inevitably relegated? They’ll be starting the season on a points deduction as it is. Also will this innocuous post be held for review too?
45m at least.