Eberechi Eze to Tottenham transfer accelerates as reason for Arsenal U-turn emerges

Arsenal registered their interest in Eberechi Eze earlier this summer but Tottenham are now the favourites to sign him from Crystal Palace before transfer deadline day

Tottenham are ramping up their pursuit of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, with Arsenal no longer in the race. Eze, 27, is Spurs' top target after fellow playmaker James Maddison suffered a knee injury in pre-season, ruling him out for the majority of the campaign.

The England international is set to miss Palace's opening game away to Chelsea on Sunday, with talks between the two clubs ongoing and expected to progress in the next 48 hours. Eze's £68million release clause expired on Friday and Tottenham are negotiating slightly below that figure.

Eze is keen to play Champions League football and the midfielder is open to a move across north London to either Spurs or Arsenal. But the latter have dropped their interest. After making contact earlier in the summer transfer window, Arsenal have now come to the conclusion that they're happy with their current attacking options. Ethan Nwaneri's decision sign a long-term contract is also part of their reasoning, as Mikel Arteta's side have high hopes for the 18-year-old. Another youngster, Max Dowman, is waiting in the wings, too. The academy graduate dazzled in pre-season and fans are excited to see him in action.

Arsenal's season begins on Sunday, as they travel to face Manchester United. Spurs got their campaign underway on Saturday, beating Burnley 3-0 on home soil to give new manager Thomas Frank the perfect start to life in north London.

All eyes will be on whether Eze is involved in Palace's curtain-raiser at Chelsea. During his Friday pre-match press conference, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner said that both Eze and Marc Guehi, who's a target for Liverpool, would start - although fresh reports suggest that the situation has changed.

"Marc has trained the entire week with us, every single training session, the same with Ebs," Glasner said of the pair. "They've prepared the best way for the Chelsea game on Sunday afternoon.

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"I've been in the football business for too long, so I know that at any time of any day, things can happen. If you ask me now, I expect both Marc and Ebs to start on Sunday."

Should Guehi and Eze be sold before transfer deadline day on Monday, September 1, Palace plan to reinvest. Leicester's Bilal El Khannouss is among the players who they're reportedly targeting to replace Eze.