Arsenal have opened formal talks with Crystal Palace over Eberechi Eze, with Mikel Arteta's side accelerating their interest following Kai Havertz's knee injury.
Softfootball reported that all that was left for Eze to join Tottenham was a scheduled medical , but the England international has now made it clear he wants the move, having grown up an Arsenal supporter and even spent time in the club's academy as a teenager.
That factor, combined with Arsenal's sudden need for an attacking reinforcement, has put the Gunners in a strong position ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who had been pushing hard to sign him.