Reiss Nelson has rejected Arsenal’s offer of a new contract with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season. The 23-year-old has struggled for starts during Arsenal’s title-challenging campaign, making only five starts in cup competitions and having also suffered a thigh injury earlier in the season. Nelson has not started a Premier League game this term, but has still made key contributions on the pitch, notably his stunning last minute winner against Bournemouth in April. He has made 15 appearances this term, scoring three and providing three assists.
Arsenal are keen to keep their academy graduate but according to Fabrizio Romano, the winger has rejected an opening offer from the club. Negotiations between the two parties will continue however with a final decision to be made at the end of the season. Nelson has already been approached by a number of other Premier League sides as well as clubs from abroad. Brighton are said to be among them with a pathway to the starting XI at the AMEX likely to be clearer than in north London where Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are ahead of him in the pecking order.
Arsenal are set to lose another of their youngsters this summer in 19-year-old Charlie Patino. The midfielder has spent the season on loan at Blackpool who have been relegated from the Championship but will not feature in Arteta’s first-team plans next season. Patino is not keen on another loan move and will push for a permanent move away from north London this summer. Arsenal could face a similar dilemma with striker Balogun. The 21-year-old is enjoying a superb season on loan with Reims in Ligue 1 where he has scored 18 times in 32 appearances but with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah vying for the centre forward role back at Arsenal, a number of clubs across Europe have shown interest in his services.