The common consensus is that he’s leaving, even if nobody is quite sure as to where he’s going. For the longest while now, it has felt as if Reiss Nelson’s time at Arsenal would reach its natural conclusion this summer. The boy who arrived at Hale End in 2007 has grown into a man who has amassed 89 senior appearances for the Gunners, but who, at the age of 24-year-old, is in desperate need of a change of scene to kickstart his career.
While the attacker has flitted in and out of Mikel Arteta’s plans at the Emirates, the assumption has always been that he would struggle to break into the first team for any kind of meaningful or sustained period. Indeed, of Nelson’s 15 Premier League outings last season, 14 came from the bench, and with talk of more attacking reinforcements arriving in North London this summer, his place in the pecking order is only likely to diminish from here on out.
It is in this context that he is being touted for an exit, and according to reports, a tussle could be about to break out for his signature. West Ham have been consistently linked with the winger in recent weeks, but according to The Times, newly-promoted Leicester City could be set to rival the Hammers in their pursuit.
The Foxes are understood to have suggested an initial loan deal for Nelson, with an obligation to buy attached, and will be hopeful that the player’s former working relationship with manager Steve Cooper at England youth level can help to give them the edge in any contest for his services. Either way, Arsenal are said to be demanding around £15 million for their academy graduate.
Now, evidently, there are snags that may have to be navigated here. For one thing, West Ham do appear to be leading the race for Nelson at the time of writing. For another, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal would be willing to agree to an initial loan, or whether they would much prefer to receive payment for the forward immediately.
But even taking those caveats into account, this is a deal that Leicester must be going all out to win over the coming days and weeks. So far this summer, the Foxes have wrapped up four signings; Abdul Fatawu from Sporting CP for around £17 million, Michael Golding and Caleb Okoli from Chelsea and Atalanta respectively for undisclosed fees, and Bobby Decordova-Reid from Fulham on a free transfer. Of that quartet, Decordova-Reid is the only attacking talent who was not on their books last season, and you suspect that if Cooper’s men are to make a real go of avoiding relegation, they will need to bolster their ranks further.
For his part, Nelson is a hugely gifted talent crying out for a chance to shine as somebody’s main man, and he would surely be afforded that opportunity at the King Power. For both player and club, then, this is a transfer that could make an awful lot of sense. Now Leicester just have to find a way of making sure it happens.
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