![\"FBL-ENG-ESP-ARSENAL-VILLARREAL-FRIENDLY\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228101766.jpg\")
\n\t\tArsenal\u2019s Martin Odegaard endured a poor 2024-25 campaign (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tArsenal\u2019s Martin Odegaard endured a poor 2024-25 campaign (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Arsenal<\/a> captain Martin Odegaard<\/a> has been warned he could be replaced by Mikel Arteta<\/a>\u2019s \u00a368m transfer target Eberechi Eze<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Gunners are interested in signing England international Eze from Crystal Palace<\/a> before the summer transfer window closes.<\/p>\n Eze has been one of the most exciting players in the Premier League in recent years and helped Palace win the FA Cup last season<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old has earned 11 caps for England since making his international debut in 2023 and featured for the Three Lions at last summer\u2019s Euros.<\/p>\n While Arsenal want to sign Eze, who has a \u00a368m release clause which expires on Friday, they face competition from north London rivals Tottenham<\/a>, who have also expressed interest in a deal.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tYour ultimate guide to the football season\t\t\t<\/p>\n In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week \u2013 sign up<\/a>, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n Speaking after Crystal Palace won the Community Shield on Sunday, Steve Parish gave interested parties hope of signing Eze<\/a> and Marc Guehi, who is closing in on a move to Liverpool<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ex-England striker and Arsenal fan Darren Bent hopes the Gunners secure a deal and says Eze should favour a move to the red half of north London.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018I\u2019m shocked he\u2019s still at Crystal Palace if I\u2019m honest,\u2019 Bent said on talkSPORT<\/a>. \u2018He is such a talented footballer and he\u2019s great to watch.<\/p>\n \u2018You would think there would be more clubs interested in him given his release clause. I\u2019m hoping this gives Arsenal the kick they need\u00a0to\u00a0go and get him.<\/p>\n \u2018If you\u2019re looking at Arsenal and Tottenham, yes Spurs won a trophy last season and are in the Champions League, but they finished fourth from bottom last year.<\/p>\n \u2018In my opinion Arsenal are in a better place to move forward.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Eze would likely replace Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard on Arsenal\u2019s left wing but Bent says he could also play as a ten ahead of Odegaard.<\/p>\n Not so long ago Odegaard was Arsenal\u2019s most important player but he endured a poor 2024-25 campaign, with Bent insisting his form was \u2018not good enough\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018With Odegaard, he\u2019s got to look himself in the mirror,\u2019 Bent added. \u2018I\u2019m a big fan of his and I\u2019ve sat on this show before and argued the case that he\u2019s as good as Bruno Fernandes.<\/p>\n \u2018Last season there was no argument, Bruno was head and shoulders above him.\u00a0I don\u2019t know what\u2019s happened since the ankle injury but he just hasn\u2019t looked the same.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tTottenham boss Thomas Frank on Eberechi Eze transfer rumours\t\t\t<\/p>\n Asked directly about Eze in a news conference before Wednesday\u2019s Uefa Super Cup against Paris St-Germain, Frank said: \u2018I think there are a lot of good players out there.<\/p>\n \u2018There are also a few from the PSG team but I don\u2019t think we can buy them right now.<\/p>\n \u2018In general, players in or players out, I always speaking about something that is done or not done. In general, I will speak about my own players.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Even\u00a0in\u00a0pre-season he hasn\u2019t looked\u00a0anywhere\u00a0near the Odegaard we saw a couple of years ago.\u00a0Six goals in all comps last season and 11 assists, it wasn\u2019t good enough for him, not good enough at all.<\/p>\n \u2018Ethan Nwaneri could be the natural successor. Otherwise you\u2019re scratching around and wondering who could play in that position.<\/p>\n \u2018I think if Arsenal were to go and sign Eze from Crystal Palace, then you\u2019ve got an option there because he can play No. 10 or he can play off the left.<\/p>\n \u2018That will put Odegaard under more pressure because at the minute he\u2019s the captain\u00a0but\u00a0he\u2019s not really being challenged or pushed, he\u2019s almost coasting through games at the minute.<\/p>\n \u2018He has to start the season well. Something\u2019s happened with him, I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s still the injury or something else, but he\u2019s got to get back to the Odegaard we know.\u2019<\/p>\n Arsenal, who face Manchester United on Sunday in their Premier League opener<\/a>, could look to offload Trossard, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira before going for Eze.<\/p>\n With Eze contracted to Crystal Palace until the summer of 2027, the Eagles will demand around \u00a368m to sell even after his buy-out clause expires.<\/p>\n Signing Eze would take Arsenal\u2019s summer spending beyond \u00a3250m, with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke joining Arteta\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on \t\t\tComments Arrow Arrow![\"Crystal](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2229545309.jpg\")
\n\t\tArsenal and Tottenham are both keen to sign Eberechi Eze (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/darren-bent-e5a6.png\")
\n\t\tEx-England striker Darren Bent discussing Arsenal\u2019s move for Eze (Picture: YouTube)<\/p>\n
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