Arsenal star Reiss Nelson has rejected a contract offer from his boyhood club as he looks to nail down first-team football for the first time in his career.
The Hale End academy graduate is in the final month of his current deal at the Emirates Stadium, but has seen only limited action this season and, at 23-years-old, is at a crossroads in his career.
He has provided three goals and two assists in his eight Premier League appearances so far, including a 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth to send Arsenal top of the Premier League in March.
Pure goosebumps! 🤩
Gooners, sum up this moment with a GIF 💭 pic.twitter.com/H8EfxX6G36
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 5, 2023
However, the Daily Mail report that Nelson ‘has rejected the offer of a new contract’, leaving the Gunners with ‘a growing belief the forward will leave at the end of the season when his contract expires’.
One potential suitor are Brighton, who are keen to add the winger to their ranks, while AC Milan have also been linked with the youngster in recent weeks.
The situation is further complicated by Arsenal’s own transfer plans, with Moussa Diaby a long-term target that would further push Nelson down the pecking order should he arrive, and Nelson already behind star pair Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli as well as January addition Leandro Trossard.
Meanwhile, new contracts for Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are thought to have been agreed in principle, but have not been officially announced, though Martinelli was handed a new deal earlier in the season as Arsenal look to tie down their young stars.