Ferdinand Warns Eze: Arsenal Move Could Bench Star

Rio Ferdinand has questioned where Eberechi Eze would fit in Arsenal’s XI (Picture: Rio Ferdinand Presents)

Rio Ferdinand has warned Eberechi Eze he may struggle for game time if he joins Arsenal from Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window.

Eze has been strongly linked to Arsenal ahead of the new Premier League season and the player is thought to be keen on a switch to north London .

Arsenal are reluctant to pay Eze’s £68m price tag – but believe they can negotiate a lower fee before the summer window closes on September 1.

Eze has established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League, helping Palace land a historic FA Cup trophy last term.

The 27-year-old has played a total of 167 games for Palace to date, registering 40 goals and 28 assists for the south London club.

While agreeing personal terms with Arsenal is unlikely to be a significant issue, former Manchester United defender Ferdinand, who works as a football pundit, has told the Englishman to think twice about a transfer.

Eberechi Eze is thought to be keen on a move to Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: ‘I don’t think [Arsenal] need Eze. Why do [Arsenal] need Eze? Where is he going to play?

‘You’ve got Martin Zubimendi as a holding midfielder, Declan Rice on the left-hand side of the No.8, Martin Odegaard on the right-hand side.

‘Then you’ve got a winger – out of Noni Madueke or Gabriel Martinelli… He’d play where Declan Rice plays.’

Eberechi Eze helped Crystal Palace win the FA Cup last season (Picture: Getty)

Quizzed if the move made sense for Arsenal, Ferdinand agreed, arguing that Eze’s potential arrival would give the Gunners more depth.

He also said that Eze could fit in the Arsenal XI if Rice was deployed as the defensive midfielder instead of new signing Martin Zubimendi.

‘If Declan Rice played as a holding midfielder, I’d take Eze in a heartbeat,’ Ferdinand added.

‘Yeah, he would give [Arsenal] depth. You could move it about. If Declan Rice gets injured, who have you got? Max Dowman.’

Arsenal feel Eze’s best position is when he operates as a No.10 but also view him as a versatile attacking player who can be deployed on the left.