Arsenal receive Marseille approach after Mason Greenwood transfer row ignites

Arsenal have reportedly been approached by Marseille for Eddie Nketiah after a transfer row erupted in the French city over the potential arrival of Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.

Our colleagues at the Manchester Evening News reported on Wednesday morning that United had accepted a bid in the region of £27m from Marseille for Greenwood. The Ligue 1 club’s interest in the 22-year-old has been well documented in the last few weeks but with the deal close, Marseille’s mayor Benoit Payan has heavily criticised the approach.

He told RMC that he did not want his club ‘covered in shame’ by signing Greenwood, insisting it was ‘unacceptable’ for the Englishman to join Roberto De Zerbi’s team. Greenwood has not featured for United since January 2022 when he was suspended by the club following his arrest for attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Greenwood saw the case against him discontinued when the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew all charges just over a year later. Last season, the winger spent the campaign on loan at Getafe where he scored ten goals in 36 appearances.

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According to Foot Mercato, Marseille have not finished with their additions to their strikeforce with Nketiah now being monitored alongside Greenwood. The club has already had ‘positive exchanges’ with the Arsenal star’s representatives with the Gunners happy to offload the player this summer.

De Zerbi is thought to have been a fan of the 25-year-old since his time at Brighton and Hove Albion hence why he is pushing for the deal this summer.