Phil Foden tells Arsenal they will get dressing room leader as Edu eyes £30m 'cut'

Arsenal are reportedly exploring a summer move for one of England’s surprise Euro 2024 stars, which could see Eddie Nketiah head in the opposite direction.

Edu and Mikel Arteta could give Arsenal’s defence another gift this summer((Offside via Getty Images)

Manchester City’s Phil Foden has given his glowing endorsement to Marc Guehi amid reports Arsenal are keen to sign him.

With Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori reportedly set to become Arsenal’s first senior signing this summer, the Gunners are also said to be eyeing Guehi, one of Crystal Palace’s most promising players. Both Calafiori and Guehi have made a splash with their performances at Euro 2024, and they could both be part of a new Arsenal defence in the near future.

Guehi, who shone for England in the runners-up finish in Germany, has seen his stock rise significantly after a stellar season in south London. And the 24-year-old’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, with big Premier League clubs now seemingly battling for his signature.

Palace have reportedly set a price tag of around £70m for their star defender, but Arsenal could reduce that figure by as much as £30m by offering Eddie Nketiah in exchange. And talks over a potential player-plus-cash offer have reportedly been mooted, according to Football.London, although it remains to be seen whether the club will ultimately try to bring Palace to the negotiating table.

Foden recently praised Guehi in an interview on the England team’s official YouTube channel (via football.london), where he said: “He (Guehi) has been a leader. I know him well from playing with him and nothing bothers him. I feel like he’s come into the team and he’s shown his quality.”

England felt the defender’s absence as they came from behind to beat Switzerland on penalties in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. The Palace star has arguably enjoyed the most significant development of any Three Lions player in Germany, enhancing his international reputation with a series of resolute performances.

Mikel Arteta was fortunate to have his first-choice centre-backs Gabriel and William Saliba in form for most of last season as they narrowly missed out on the Premier League title. The arrival of Italian sensation Calafiori would bolster the team’s options at centre-back and left-back, while a fit Jurrien Timber would improve depth in those same areas.

Phil Foden has developed an appreciation for Marc Guehi’s leadership qualities ((Eddie Keogh – The English Football Association/The English Football Association via Getty Images)

A potential transfer for Guehi could certainly increase the pressure in the competition, especially as the player would not want to give up his starting role. And as Foden pointed out, the player has leadership qualities that are often hard to find.

Arsenal’s new kit for next season is now on sale

The new jersey took the Gunners back to their roots by placing a sleek and stylish cannon just above the heart of the new jersey. Shirt manufacturer Adidas have produced a “clean and minimalist” design and the design “embraces modernity, whilst honouring Arsenal’s rich heritage”.