SunSport reports that Eberechi Eze will not feature for Crystal Palace in their historic Europa Conference League first-leg playoff against Fredrikstad — he’ll sit it out as his £67.5 million move to Arsenal edges ever closer.
According to the exclusive, Palace’s manager Oliver Glasner will have to press on without his star performer, relying on players like Ismaila Sarr, Daichi Kamada, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and possibly giving minutes to Romain Esse. Palace had been aiming to play in the Europa League, but due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations were instead placed in the Conference League — allowing Nottingham Forest to take their Europa League spot.
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Arsenal swooped in and hijacked a deal that Tottenham Hotspur believed was already sewn up. Spurs had thought they’d secured both Palace’s agreement and personal terms with Eze — until Arsenal launched a last-ditch effort and outbid them.
At 27, Eze’s arrival would mark Arsenal’s seventh signing of the summer — joining the ranks of Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Cristhian Mosquera, and Kepa Arrizabalaga — pushing their total summer outlay beyond £250 million. The versatile England international, adept in multiple positions (left wing, central midfield, No. 10), could be in line to make his Arsenal debut as soon as their upcoming match against Leeds United.
