Arsenal
Premier League • England
Arsenal forward approaches Arteta with transfer request after agents contact Bundesliga duo
Two potential suitors are on alert after Arsenal attacker Reiss Nelson made it clear to Mikel Arteta that he wants his next exit from the club to be a permanent one, according to reports.
Nelson is currently on loan away from Arsenal at Fulham, where he has played 10 times so far and scored twice. However, there is no option to buy in Fulham’s agreement, so the winger’s future beyond this season remains up for question.
Nelson has made 90 appearances for Arsenal before, but he has never featured in more than half of their Premier League matches in a single season. The two busiest seasons of his career before were during his previous loan spells, with Hoffenheim and Feyenoord.
And it appears Nelson’s previous experience in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim might be something he wants to recreate. According to Football Transfers, the 24-year-old has contacted Arsenal manager Arteta to clarify that he is keen to move on for good next year.
Nelson is still under contract with Arsenal until 2027, but he is at a stage of his career where he wants continuity on the pitch. And bearing in mind that only three of his appearances for Fulham so far have been starts, leaving the Premier League altogether isn’t out of the question.
Indeed, the report claims Nelson’s representatives have been in contact with two German clubs: reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin.
The former England U21 international and his advisors believe he could get his career back on track in Germany.
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Interest in Nelson remains unclear
It is not yet clear if either of the clubs mentioned would be interested in Nelson. However, there have been whispers of interest from Germany before since his spell with Hoffenheim, especially when he was previously approaching the end of his old contract in 2023.
Earlier this week, Fulham manager Marco Silva said Nelson has had a ‘good impact’ at Craven Cottage so far, though it remains to be seen if a permanent move would be explored.
Either way, reports have recently suggested that Arsenal are not planning for Nelson to return to their squad, so his wish of leaving should be granted – as long as the Gunners can agree a deal with regards to his transfer fee with another club.
Arsenal’s asking price for Nelson in the summer just gone was up to £20m.
Latest Arsenal transfer news
Meanwhile, Arsenal have been tipped to strengthen their attack with a January move for PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani.
The French striker has fallen down the pecking order in Paris and could become available in the next transfer window, when Arsenal might be tempted to add extra firepower to their frontline.
However, reports have claimed that Arsenal are just one of many sides in the race for Kolo Muani and they will have to beat competition from some Premier League rivals to get him.
Elsewhere, one player being linked with a winter exit is defender Jakub Kiwior, who has struggled for regular starts since his January 2023 arrival from Spezia.
Kiwior has often been linked with a return to Serie A, but the latest reports have revealed how he could join a La Liga club instead.