Fatuwu replay, Arsenal position, Cooper boost – Leicester City transfer verdict Reiss Nelson

Leicester City are reportedly in talks with Arsenal over a deal for winger Reiss Nelson as Steve Cooper looks to add to his squad.

Fabrizio Romano reports that City are in talks with the Gunners over an initial loan deal, with an obligation to buy inserted into the deal. Discussions are at the stage where financial terms are being discussed.

City are then said to be “confident” Nelson will come to the club due to previous work with Cooper. Nelson worked with the City boss during his time with England U17s in 2015, where he scored 11 times in 11 caps for the team.

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Links with Nelson come after Cooper admitted the club are looking to bring in more players ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season. “Hopefully we can add some new faces, which I know the club is trying to do and is working with a lot,” he told the club ahead of Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Shrewsbury.

“That will give the boys a boost as well. We have had two very good weeks but we have to make sure that next week is even better.”

Nelson arrived at Arsenal’s academy but struggled to find regular game time last season. He made 15 Premier League appearances as Arsenal challenged Man City for the Premier League title.

So would Nelson be a good signing for City? Our LeicestershireLive writers have had their say.

Amy Wilson

Reiss Nelson would be a very good signing for City, especially if they can get him on loan, similar to the one that brought Abdul Fatawu to the club last summer. Nelson can play on both sides of the pitch and centrally, meaning he provides good attacking options for Cooper.

He has shown during his time at Arsenal that he can be a real threat in the Premier League. With Fatawu, Stephy Mavididi and new signing Bobby De Cordova Reid, it gives Cooper some very good attacking options and possibly allows Kasey McAteer to go out on loan as he has been linked with Cardiff City.

Some of these players could also play more central roles, as was tried with Mavididi in the friendly against Shrewsbury.

An added bonus is that he has worked with Cooper before during his time in the youth teams. Cooper, therefore, will know the player well and know how to get the best out of him, which will benefit City.

Kieran King

Leicester should go all out to try and sign Reiss Nelson this summer. The winger has yet to show his full potential in the Premier League, but he certainly has the ingredients to flourish at this level.

He made just one top-flight start last season for the Gunners and is set to be allowed to leave. Having previously worked with Steve Cooper in the England set-up, Leicester should take the opportunity to lure him to the King Power Stadium.

With Cooper using a 4-2-3-1 system for large periods in the win over Shrewsbury on Tuesday, Nelson could easily slot into any of those three attacking midfield roles. He is versatile enough to play anywhere in the front line and would be a smart addition for the Foxes, especially if he is on loan with an obligation to buy.

Liam Wood

Forming a team after winning promotion to the Premier League is never a simple task. With relative financial constraints – certainly compared to the big boys – managers and key behind-the-scenes figures must ensure they secure enough quality, experience and know-how to mount a successful survival bid.

Top-level pedigree is an absolute must, and Nelson has it from his studies in North London. Not only that, the winger would arrive with a point to prove as well, making it arguably an even more dangerous proposition.

That is as long as they settle comfortably in a new environment. Nelson was on the fringes for Arsenal during a title charge last season – and was deemed good enough to make 14 appearances from the substitutes’ bench – so the 24-year-old is no stranger to the Premier League League.

On paper, it appears to be a budding movement that makes sense for all parties.

Isaac Johnson

Nelson would be a positive signing for Leicester, although fans should temper their expectations of consistent results throughout the season. That’s not because he isn’t necessarily capable, but because he was never given consistent playing time at Arsenal.

So there is an element of risk attached, which will vary in degree depending on what commission, if not a loan, is being brought. However, I think this opportunity comes at a good time for both parties. Nelson, now 24, will be looking for regular minutes and Leicester can provide that.

He is also the type of signing to boost the overall level of the Foxes squad, having three hours of Champions League experience in a team that challenged for the title. Nelson could become a key figure for Cooper, whose career has shown his tremendous work with talent down low, but he should be given time and grace initially.

Matt Abbott

You only have to look at the two clubs Nelson previously joined on loan from Arsenal to see why Leicester should be all over the place. The international scored seven goals and assisted another during a Bundesliga spell at Hoffenheim as a teenager, despite starting just five games under Julian Nagelsmann.

Nelson also played for Feyenoord three years ago during their run to the Europa Conference League final under new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. Leicester, of course, would have met the Dutch club if they had beaten Roma in the semi-finals. While in Holland, Nelson scored four goals and assisted another seven, showing that he can also create chances for his teammates.

Stephy Mavididi is also someone he has previously played with on dozens of occasions during his time at the Arsenal Academy. That existing chemistry, combined with the fact that Nelson knows Steve Cooper from England’s youth teams, should see the player fit in well with the team should a move happen.

Do you think Reiss Nelson would be a good signing for City? Tell us in the comments section