Arsenal's highly-rated young midfielder Ethan Nwaneri is on the verge of securing a loan move to French giants Marseille until the end of the current season, dealing a significant blow to several interested English Premier League clubs who were also pursuing his signature.
Nwaneri's Limited Game Time Spurs Loan Decision
The 18-year-old England Under-21 international has found first-team opportunities severely limited at the Emirates Stadium this campaign, having played just 165 minutes in the Premier League. His last league appearance came as a substitute in the north London derby at the end of November, despite his impressive breakthrough season last year where he netted nine goals across all competitions.
Initially, Arsenal were hesitant to allow Nwaneri to depart given their continued involvement in four different competitions. However, the club's hierarchy have now recognised that the talented midfielder desperately requires regular playing time to continue his development, prompting their approval of the temporary move.
English Interest Outpaced by French Pursuit
Crystal Palace and West Ham United were both believed to have expressed strong interest in securing Nwaneri on a loan arrangement, but Marseille, under the guidance of former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, have moved decisively to secure the promising youngster.
Positive discussions between the French club and Premier League leaders Arsenal have resulted in Marseille emerging as Nwaneri's expected destination. The agreement will involve Marseille paying a loan fee for the midfielder's services, though crucially, there will be no option to make the transfer permanent at the season's conclusion, reflecting Arsenal's long-term faith in his potential.
Nwaneri, who signed a new five-year contract with Arsenal in August amid serious interest from Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, is currently with the squad for their Champions League fixture against Inter Milan on Tuesday. He is anticipated to complete his move to Ligue 1 later this week.
Zinchenko Also Nearing Arsenal Exit
In separate transfer developments, Ukrainian international Oleksandr Zinchenko appears set to leave Arsenal permanently, with Dutch powerhouse Ajax engaged in advanced talks to secure his signature.
The versatile left-back is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest but has struggled for consistent game time, making just four Premier League starts. A permanent switch to Ajax now seems increasingly likely as Arsenal continue to reshape their squad during the January transfer window.
This potential double departure highlights Arsenal's strategic approach to player development and squad management, ensuring promising talents like Nwaneri gain valuable experience while moving on players who no longer feature in their immediate plans.
