Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah is being watched by French club Marseille, according to reports.

It comes after the city’s mayor criticized the team for supposedly agreeing to sign Mason Greenwood.

According to Foot Mercato, the Ligue 1 team has begun talks with Nketiah, 25, about joining the club.

SunSport exclusively revealed in June that the Gunners were reluctant to move the Hale End graduate to make room for new offensive reinforcements.

Nketiah battled for playing time at the Emirates last season, although a number of Premier League clubs, including Fulham, expressed interest in signing him for up to £30 million.

He could potentially be on his way overseas to join former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi.

And Nketiah, who scored six goals in all competitions last season, is thought to be up for a new challenge.

A separate agreement has been reached with Manchester United to sign Greenwood for £27 million.

The 22-year-old was on loan at Getafe last season and has drawn interest from a number of elite clubs this summer, including Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Lazio, Juventus, and Marseille.

Greenwood was suspended by Manchester United in January 2022 before being accused nine months later with attempted rape, violence, and controlling and coercive behaviour toward a woman.

The one-time England international rejected the allegations, and all criminal proceedings were subsequently withdrawn in February 2023.

Fans of the Ligue 1 club, on the other hand, have launched a campaign called #GreenwoodNotWelcome, urging Marseille officials to halt their pursuit or risk causing “irreversible damage”.

The city’s mayor, Benoit Payan, was reportedly incensed by the news, telling RMC, “I don’t want my club to be bathed in humiliation.

“It is not acceptable.”

In response to reports of a probable move, De Zerbi stated that he would “defend Greenwood” openly.

He remarked, “Greenwood has not yet been recruited, so there isn’t much to tell. He is a champion, an international level player.