Arsenal Prepare Reiss Nelson Exit as West Ham Pursues Deal

Arsenal are ready to cut the cord with Reiss Nelson, with West Ham in talks over a deal that would see the winger drop into the Championship for a promotion tilt.

The 26-year-old has spent the last two seasons living life on loan, first at Brentford and then at Fulham, and his return to north London this summer has not altered his standing. He is not part of Mikel Arteta’s plans for the new campaign, and Arsenal have made it clear they are prepared to move him on.

West Ham have stepped forward. The Hammers have approached Arsenal to explore Nelson’s availability as they look to add proven quality out wide and sharpen their attacking edge for a serious push back to the Premier League.

From Arsenal’s side, there is no hesitation. With Nelson entering the final year of his contract, the club are understood to be keen on a deal with West Ham and have given encouragement to their London neighbours as talks continue over the structure of any agreement.

The key question now sits with the player. Dropping down a division is no small decision for a winger who has spent the last two years in the Premier League and is still weighing up his next move. Personal terms have not yet been discussed, and Nelson is keeping his options open while negotiations between the clubs play out.

There is interest from abroad as well. A Portuguese side now managed by Marco Silva — the coach who took Nelson to Fulham two seasons ago — are in the frame, offering a different route out of Arsenal and a reunion with a manager who knows how to use him.

Arsenal’s preference is clear: a permanent sale this summer. They want a clean break and a fee before his contract runs down. Even so, there have been enquiries over another loan. If a temporary move is the only viable path, the Gunners can trigger a 12‑month extension to Nelson’s deal to protect his value and avoid losing him for nothing.

Nelson is not the only senior name on the possible exit list. Arsenal are also open to selling Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira before the transfer window closes. The club value Jesus at up to £20million and he has been linked with Napoli, though there has been no formal approach from the Italian side so far. For now, the interest remains just that: interest.

In goal, Arsenal are working on a different kind of solution. Young goalkeeper Tommy Setford is expected to head out on loan, with the club actively seeking a move that will guarantee him regular first-team football this season.

Arsenal’s summer, then, is not just about who arrives. It is about who leaves, on what terms, and how quickly they can reshape a squad that has moved beyond players like Nelson — even as he decides whether his next step is a Championship promotion fight, a fresh start abroad, or one last attempt to force his way back into the Premier League picture.