The latest on Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah’s contract situation with January transfer window looming

Eddie Nketiah reminded everyone of his enormous talent with a delicious hat-trick to help Arsenal on their way to a 5-1 demolition of Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.

The 22-year-old has one leg already out of the Emirates, with his contract due to expire in the summer and clubs like West Ham and Leeds United circling for his signature.

Borussia Dortmund, Lyon and Mönchengladbach have also registered their interest, with the player still quietly deciding his next move.

After his man-of-the-match display against the Black Cats, his manager Mikel Arteta was full of praise and urged the player to stay at the Emirates.

Arteta said: “We are trying. It’s not about anything else but minutes.

“He wants game time, he wants to be on that field and that is the only reason to say can I do it here?

“That’s the question. We all want him to stay.”

When does Nketiah’s current contract run out?

The young striker’s contract will run out in the summer, and he is free to speak to foreign clubs in the next two weeks and will have the liberty to start speaking to British clubs in February.

There have been rumours that Arteta is willing to keep him at the club, but the player and his team are looking at his development and have decided he’s better off elsewhere.

Nketiah was well ahead of players like Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood when he shot onto the scene, but his stock has fallen and he still hopes for that English national team call up some day.

He is the record goalscorer for the England U21 team with 16 goals from 17 games.

Why is Nketiah refusing to sign a new deal?

Arsenal have been working hard to convince the player that his future is at the Emirates, and that effort is seen in the recent game time he’s enjoying, but the player is determined to start afresh elsewhere.

LondonWorld understands he’s not motivated by money but he wants to move to a club where his game time will considerably improve, which will then be reflected in his performances.

This season he is yet to fire in the Premier League, though he has scored five goals in the League Cup.

Last season, he scored six goals including two in the Premier League and attempted to leave on loan in the summer, but Mikel Arteta blocked the move, insisting he wanted Nketiah to stay at the club.

Where is his likely destination?

West Ham, Leeds United, Lyon, Mönchengladbach and Brighton are all monitoring his situation, and given how close the player is to being a free agent there are likely more clubs speaking to him behind the scenes.

LondonWorld understands his preferred choice will be to stay in the Premier League and test himself against some of the best defenders, but he is also aware that players like Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham have shown that you can go abroad and still make an excellent career.