CBS Sports report that both Brighton and Hove Albion and OGC Nice have indicated their interest in Reiss Nelson ahead of his contract expiring this summer, and there’s at least one club in the Bundesliga interested in bringing him back to Germany.
Arsenal have opened talks with Nelson over a new contract, and the winger appears keen to stay. But if they can’t find an agreement, the 23-year-old has other options.
Despite making his Arsenal first-team debut in 2017, Nelson is still yet to make his 10th Premier League start for the Gunners.
Part of that is due to injury, part is due to the couple of spells he’s spent on loan, but he’s also just found it difficult to get ahead of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Saturday’s goal and assist won’t change that alone, but it feels like now is the time for Nelson to make a push for more regular opportunities.
Leandro Trossard is out injured, along with Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus, so Gabriel Martinelli or Emile Smith Rowe are likely to be needed up front in Arsenal’s first-choice side.
That should provide Premier League substitute opportunities and potential starts in the Europa League.
After that, further goals and assists could quickly make Nelson a realistic option to break into the side even when everyone is fit.
The pathway is there, but Nelson can’t rest on his laurels after Saturday’s storybook ending. He has to go again on Thursday and give Mikel Arteta a decision to make.
