Arsenal and West Ham Discuss Reiss Nelson Transfer

Arsenal and West Ham are in talks over a deal for Reiss Nelson, with the winger’s Emirates future hanging by a thread as the final year of his contract ticks down.

The 26-year-old has spent the last two campaigns living life on loan, first at Brentford and then at Fulham, and his return to north London this summer has not altered his standing under Mikel Arteta. He is not part of the manager’s plans for the new season, and Arsenal are actively working to move him on.

West Ham have stepped forward. The Hammers have contacted Arsenal to explore Nelson’s availability as they look to bulk up their squad for a promotion push in the Championship. It is a bold move for a club of their size and expectation, but the need for proven top-flight quality is clear if they are to come straight back up.

Arsenal, for their part, are understood to be keen on that destination. With Nelson into the final 12 months of his deal, the Gunners have given encouragement to West Ham and talks between the clubs are under way over the structure and conditions of a potential transfer.

One major question remains: does Nelson actually want to drop into the Championship?

At this stage, that is unresolved. Personal terms have not yet been discussed with the player, who is weighing up his options while his representatives gauge the market. Interest in him is not limited to England. Several clubs have made their presence known this summer, including Benfica.

The Portuguese giants now operate under Marco Silva, the coach who brought Nelson to Fulham two seasons ago and knows exactly what he can offer. That existing relationship gives Benfica a natural advantage if they decide to push harder, and it offers Nelson a very different route from a year in the second tier.

Arsenal’s preference is clear: they would like a permanent sale in this window. There have been enquiries about another loan, but the club are wary of losing control of the situation with his contract winding down. They do, however, hold an option to extend Nelson’s deal by a further 12 months, a clause that would protect his value if they sanction a temporary move instead of a sale.

Nelson is not the only senior player who could leave before the window closes.

Arsenal are open to selling Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira if suitable offers arrive. The club value Jesus at up to £20million and the Brazilian has been linked with Napoli, yet, as it stands, no formal approach has landed from the Serie A side. Interest is there, concrete negotiations are not.

Vieira’s situation is quieter but similarly fragile, with Arsenal prepared to listen if a deal helps reshape a squad that has grown deep but expensive.

Further down the pecking order, the Gunners are also working on a loan move for young goalkeeper Tommy Setford. The plan is simple: secure him regular first-team football this season and accelerate his development away from the safety net of academy fixtures.

For Arsenal, this window is becoming less about marquee arrivals and more about hard decisions. Who stays, who goes, and how much value they can still extract from players like Nelson before the clock runs out.