The now-or-never Arsenal and Crystal Palace swap deal that could appeal to both clubs

If it’s going to happen, it has to happen now. Earlier this week Metro reported that Arsenal were planning to gazump the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United by offering wantaway striker Eddie Nketiah as a makeweight in a possible swap deal involving Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The Eagles are demanding around £70 million for the centre-back this summer, but the Gunners believe that they could bring that price tag down by as much as £30 million if their academy graduate went the other way in part exchange.

Since that update, however, there have been developments. Firstly, Arsenal look to be pushing ahead with their move for Bologna star Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian has been an anticipated acquisition for some time now, but the finer details of his attached fee had threatened to derail the deal at one stage.

Then, of course, there is the small matter Nketiah himself. A barrage of reports claim that the 25-year-old has agreed personal terms with French outfit Marseille ahead of a prospective switch, and all that remains now is for the Gunners to settle on a valuation with the Ligue 1 giants.

With regards to the Guehi deal, these altered circumstances could present issues. For one thing, whether Arsenal will have the inclination to bring in two big money defenders in the same window remains to be seen - especially when there are other areas of his squad that Mikel Arteta is seemingly keen to strengthen. The caveat to that point is that Calafiori may well feature at left-back more than he does in the centre, but even then, the Gunners would be spending upwards of £80 million to improve a back line that was already the meanest in the Premier League last season.

And all of this chatter will presumably become entirely immaterial if Nketiah leaves for France anyways. Without the striker thrown in to soften Palace’s resolve, Arsenal would be looking at a combined fee for Guehi and Calafiori that would be much closer to £110 million. Surely that is unthinkable.

If the Gunners do decide that they want Guehi, then, they must pull the trigger now. Regardless of Calafiori’s imminent arrival, there are still huge merits to signing the England international, and an investment this summer could serve Arteta’s project well for the next decade to come. But so much hinges on Nketiah’s availability, and as soon as his expected move to Marseille is rubber-stamped, you would presume that any lingering hopes of luring Guehi to the Emirates in the immediate future would follow him out of the exit door.

As such, Arsenal’s have a decision to make. Do they actually want Guehi, or are they satisfied with Calafiori alone? If they do opt to push for the Palace man, can Nketiah be convinced that he would prefer Selhurst Park over the south of France, and how quickly can a proposal be put together? Only those involved will know for certain, but if the Gunners are to act, it has to be now or never.