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Report: North London rivals clash over £68m target

Arsenal Eye Eberechi Eze in Potential North London Transfer Battle

Gunners Enter Race for Crystal Palace Star

Arsenal are reportedly lining up a move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, setting the stage for a potential north London showdown with Tottenham Hotspur. According to Alex Crook of talkSPORT, the Gunners have added Eze to their list of targets for the left-wing position, and could be prepared to trigger his £68 million release clause.

The Palace playmaker has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most creative forces since joining from QPR in 2020. With 40 goals and 28 assists in 167 appearances for the Eagles, Eze has consistently been a standout performer outside the so-called ‘Big Six’. At 26, he’s entering his peak years, and interest from top clubs is intensifying.

Eze a More Affordable Alternative to Rodrygo

Eze’s inclusion on Arsenal’s wishlist comes as they also weigh up a move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo. However, with Rodrygo’s fee expected to exceed £100m, Eze represents a more attainable – yet still high-quality – alternative. Spurs had been pushing to sign the England international after cooling interest in Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who is now heading to Manchester United.

North London rivals clash over £68m target

Photo: IMAGO

Palace’s FA Cup heroics last season, sealed by a 1-0 win over Manchester City thanks to a vital goal from Eze, only boosted his stock further. He also contributed eight goals and eight assists in the 2024/25 Premier League season as Palace finished 12th.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From an Arsenal fan’s perspective, the prospect of signing Eberechi Eze is exciting on multiple levels. First, his playing style aligns well with Mikel Arteta’s system. Eze’s ability to glide through midfield and unlock defences with short bursts of skill and movement could complement Arsenal’s more structured possession game – especially when breaking down low blocks.

Financially, £68m for a proven Premier League talent who’s still only 26 feels more justifiable than spending over £100m on Rodrygo, who may require more adaptation time. Eze has shown he can deliver on big stages too – scoring the winner in an FA Cup final and contributing consistently over multiple seasons.

What’s equally intriguing is the potential psychological edge this could give Arsenal over Tottenham. Hijacking a Spurs target not only strengthens the Gunners’ squad but also reinforces their stature as the more attractive north London destination for top players.