Leicester ‘in talks to reunite Nelson with Cooper’

Arsenal are in talks with Leicester City over a loan deal for Reiss Nelson with an obligation to buy the winger, according to transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano.

Gunners academy graduate Nelson made one start in the Premier League last season and has travelled with Mikel Arteta’s squad for their US tour, which begins against Bournemouth in California on Thursday.

New Leicester manager Steve Cooper gave Nelson his first international call-up for England Under-16s in November 2014 and selected him for Euro Under-17 in 2016.

🗣Forest Manager Steve Cooper on embracing Reiss Nelson at full-time after the 5-0 #Arsenal win over Forest today : “I always had a strong relationship with him. He was a standout player for the England U17s. It’s good to see him doing well, I just wish it wasn’t today.” 🤝🔴 pic.twitter.com/Uezmuwzg7C

— Arsenal News Channel (@Arsenalnewschan) October 30, 2022

Reiss Nelson salary

Nelson signed a contract extension last year until 2027 following his breakthrough season at Arsenal, and the attacker’s wages could prove a stumbling block for the newly-promoted Foxes.

The 24-year-old receives £100,000 a week, according to Capology, which says only Jamie Vardy – Leicester’s record modern-day goalscorer – earns more at the King Power Stadium.

Reiss Nelson stats

Should Nelson be required to take a pay cut, the Londoner may be persuaded by his strong chance of more playing time at Leicester.

Nelson made his senior debut in Arsenal’s 2017 FA Community Shield win over Chelsea, moving to Bundesliga club Hoffenheim the following year, where he scored seven goals in 29 appearances.

He won the FA Cup the following season with Arsenal, then joined Feyenoord in 2021/22, producing 11 direct goal involvements in 32 appearances across their Eredivisie campaign and run to the Uefa Europa Conference League final.

What a club! 🔴⚪️👀 #DareToCreate @adidasfootball x @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/pj9WdtHXH6

— Reiss Nelson (@ReissNelson9) July 1, 2019

In 2022/23, his 18 outings for Arsenal featured three goals, one of which was a 97th-minute winner as the club where he started out as an eight-year-old kept their title challenge intact with a comeback win over Bournemouth.

Arteta described himself as an instant admirer of Nelson but the player responsible for six goals in 12 England Under-21 matches was a peripheral figure in 2023/24, averaging less than 18 minutes in his 15 top-flight games.

Nelson set up two goals during the Champions League group stage but did not feature beyond the knockout phase. He was not used again after starting a home game against Luton Town on April 3.

Arsenal’s wealth of talent has not helped Nelson’s cause, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus among Arteta’s first-choice attackers.