Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew has urged Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah to move on from the Emirates this summer. His comments on the matter came after the England international has been linked with a move to Marseille.
It is believed that the French outfit’s latest bid for the forward stands at £16.8 million. This could be enough for the Gunners, with Nketiah surplus to requirements.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Pardew said (via Now Arsenal):
“I think he needs to move. I’ve watched him at Arsenal, and he reminds me of Ian Wright. He has a very similar style: sharp, quick around the box, and he gets shots off quickly.”
However, the former Newcastle United boss claimed that a Premier League side would come knocking on Nketiah’s door should he wait. Pardew added:
“I think he’ll score goals, and I think he’ll score goals in the Premier League. If I were his agent, I would wait a little while and see if another Premier League club comes in for him.
“He is a finisher- an out-and-out finisher. His link up play and and all-round game might not suit Arteta’s style, but look at Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa. Nketiah could do what he does. Perhaps not at Ollie’s current level, as he’s at the top of his game, but I think Eddie has the potential to reach that.”
Currently, Nketiah is behind Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to start in the number nine position. To date, he’s made 168 appearances across competitions for the Gunners, bagging 38 goals and seven assists.