Bayern Munich hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of Eberechi Eze in £68m transfer saga. A fierce battle is brewing between Arsenal and Bayern Munich for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze. His £68 million release clause has become the focal point of a high-stakes transfer tussle. The German giants’ sudden entry, triggered by Jamal Musiala’s devastating leg injury, threatens to derail Mikel Arteta’s plans to make Eze his “final piece in the jigsaw” for Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions.
Bayern’s Emergency Move
- Musiala’s Injury Impact: Musiala broke fibula and dislocated his ankle sustained at the Club World Cup. This will keep him out for 4-5 months. This also means Bayern will look to the market for replacements immediately. With Leroy Sané also leaving to join Galatasaray, manager, Vincent Kompany hopes to reunite Eze with his former Palace teammate Michael Olise. He sees the pair’s combination as vital to maintaining firepower in a restructured Bayern attack.
- Alternative Targets: Bayern are also looking at a possible move for Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku. He has had a poor spell at Stamford Bridge which has seen him placed on the transfer list. However, Eze remains Kompany’s number one choice after seeing Florian Wirtz leave for Liverpool.
Arsenal’s Counter Move
Despite nearing deals for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres (£73m) and Chelsea’s Noni Madueke (£50m), Gunners refuses to abandon their pursuit of Eze. The Gunners have:
- Structured Payment Plan: Proposed £45m upfront with add-ons reaching £68m to navigate Financial Fair Play (FFP) constraints. This helps to avoid an immediate full-clause payout.
- Player Swap Tactic: Offered Crystal Palace their choice of attackers Fabio Vieira or Reiss Nelson to lower the cash component. Vieira, in particular, is a target for Nottingham Forest, complicating negotiations.
- Eze’s Preference: Sources indicate Eze favors a return to Arsenal who released him as a teenager. He wants it for Champions League football and a central role in Arteta’s system. Personal terms are not considered a hurdle.
Chelsea’s Shadow Move in the Deal
While Eze dominates headlines, Bayern Munich hijack and interest in Christopher Nkunku adds a subplot. The French forward, marginalized at Chelsea, could be a cost-effective alternative. Chelsea are open to offloading him, though Bayern’s focus remains split between Eze and Liverpool’s Luis Díaz.
Eze’s Stellar Credentials
- 2024/25 Impact: Scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists across all competitions, including the FA Cup final winner against Manchester City.
- Versatility: Excels as a left-winger, attacking midfielder, or box-to-box player—a flexibility valued by both Arsenal and Bayern.
What’s Next?
- Palace’s Stance: Insistent on the full £68m clause being met, either via cash or structured deal. They’re under no pressure to sell, with Eze contracted until 2027.
- Bayern’s Edge: Financial muscle allows them to pay the clause outright, but Eze’s reluctance to move to Germany gives Arsenal hope.
- Arsenal’s Timeline: Aim to finalize the deal before preseason fixtures intensify, with the Singapore tour underway and a North London Derby against Spurs looming on July 31.
Conclusion
The transfer saga concerning Eberechi Eze is a classic case of a high-stakes battle. This lies between Bayern Munich’s financial needs and Arsenal’s footballing context significance. Bayern Munich hijack mid-news came as a reaction to Jamal Musiala’s long-term injury and Leroy Sané’s eventual departure see them in a position to exercise Crystal Palace’s £68m release clause outright. So, they readily leverage their tremendous financial influence on the process. The club’s primary obstacle is where Eze himself wishes to go. He is keen to return to Arsenal where he was initially released. Moreover, the allure of the more attractive option of playing in England’s gala event, the UEFA Champions League makes it exceedingly difficult for Bayern want to’ Eze.
Final Verdict
If you limit the focus of the transfer on the value of £68m, then Arsenal can’t afford to pay that massive amount outright. In terms of their offer to Crystal Palace, Arsenal has proposed worth to the player and club in the form of structured terms (£45m for starters and add-ons, transitional payments regarding play or games out, or affective players swapped (e.g. Fabio Vieira). For them, it was not about the money but their financial fair play revelations, however, they were unable to shake it at all, and Palace will not budge from accepting the total release clause.
Then you have Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, probably an ideal back up to Eze for Bayern, but inconsistent, so they have Eze as their primary option. The eventual twist to the investigation relies on whether Eze forces a move to Arsenal or Bayern pays their price.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
