Arsenal young star Reiss Nelson has reportedly rejected the latest contract offer presented to him by the club.
The 23- year-old came through the Hale End ranks with Bukayo Saka, who has since nailed down the right-wing spot in Arteta’s team, leaving Nelson to play a bit-part role for the past several months.
Nelson’s contract is set to expire in the summer – if this is allowed to happen, he will leave the club on a free transfer.
Arsenal are believed to have tabled a new-and-improved contract offer to Nelson, but according to Fabrizio Romano, the winger has rejected their opening proposal.
Romano adds that talks will continue with Nelson’s entourage, as the Englishman has announced his desire to sign a new contract with his boyhood club more than once this season.
A final decision is unlikely to be made until the end of the season, but Nelson – who is free to talk to foreign clubs – has apparently received several approaches from teams in England and abroad.
Reigning Serie A champions AC Milan are believed to have been offered the chance to sign Nelson, while Brighton & Hove Albion are also in the picture for a potential free transfer.
Nelson, who joined Arsenal as a schoolboy in 2007 and was at one point regarded as one of their highest-rated youth prospects,
has produced seven goals and seven assists in 63 appearances for the Gunners’ first team since making his debut in 2017.
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The 23-year-old has won one FA Cup and two Community Shields with the Gunners,
while also helping Feyenoord reach the Europa Conference League final last season during a productive loan spell.
While Arsenal are not giving up hope of agreeing a new contract with Nelson, the North London club will likely part ways with several other fringe players, starting with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has confirmed that he will leave when his contract expires in June.
Centre-back Pablo Mari will also wave his goodbyes, as Monza were obliged to make his loan deal permanent if they avoided relegation from Serie A, which they achieved last Friday.
Reims loanee Folarin Balogun, who has scored 18 Ligue 1 goals during a sensational campaign, could also be on the way out,
as Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard are all battling for the number nine spot at the Emirates right now.