Palace manager wishes Eze ‘all the best’

LONDON, England:

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has wished forward Eberechi Eze "all the best for his new club" ahead of an expected move to Arsenal.

Eze was left out of Crystal Palace's team for their Conference League playoff match yesterday following reports the England forward has agreed to join the Gunners.

Palace named a close-to-full-strength team against Fredrikstad and Eze was the standout omission, not even included among the substitutes.

"Honestly, I expected that he would start today for us, but he called me this morning and said that he doesn't feel well to play in the evening," Glasner said before the game.

After the game, Glasner said he doesn't think Eze will play for Palace again.

"Looks like wishing him all the best for his new club," Glasner said following a 1-0 win over the Norwegian team.

Widespread reports in the British media said Eze has agreed to a transfer to Arsenal, which has moved late in the summer window for a player who was reportedly close to joining north London rivals Tottenham.

The 27-year-old Eze will cost an initial PS60 million ($80 million), according to the reports, including from the BBC. It would take Arsenal's spending in this summer transfer window to around PS250 million ($335 million).

Neither Palace nor Arsenal have commented publicly on any potential deal.

Eze was a youth-team player with Arsenal before being released as a teenager. - AP