Arsenal sent Eberechi Eze message amid transfer interest after Crystal Palace call

Eberechi Eze started and scored for Crystal Palace in their second pre-season friendly this summer on Friday night.

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored inside two minutes against Crawley Town at Broadfield Stadium, and the centre-forward then turned provider for Eze half an hour later. After leading a swift counterattack, Mateta squared the ball to his unmarked teammate, who finished first-time in off the foot of the post.

Eze had already gone close before then, cut inside and fired off a seemingly goalbound effort that needed Crawley defender Dion Conroy to deflect away. That was merely the appetiser for what was to come.

Minutes before Eze's goal, Will Hughes played a quick free-kick to the England international, who was free inside the centre circle. He then proceeded to jinx past a tackle from Jay Williams, then evaded the sliding challenge of Kyle Scott from behind before nutmegging the oncoming Josh Flint.

Eze then attempted an audacious lob over Crawley's on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies, who was barely off his line, that he only just tipped over the crossbar and behind for a corner. His well-earned goal then duly came, and Eze remained on after the half-time despite Palace making several changes.

That withdrawal eventually came mid-way through the second half, at the same time as Ismaila Sarr and Mateta came off. All three are the subject of transfer interest this summer, but none more so than Eze.

football.london understands the playmaker is Arsenal 's primary target on the market between now and the end of the summer transfer window. Palace, however, want the player's £67.5million release clause paid in full.

As such, any move for Eze may be late, with the need to focus on outgoings first to facilitate such an outlay. The Gunners have yet to sanction a significant departure this summer, unlike years past.

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