Transfer hijack Spurs left stunned as Arsenal swoop in to agree Eze deal

Arsenal have agreed a deal worth up to £67.5m for Eberechi Eze and look poised to sensationally hijack Tottenham's move for the England forward.

- Ed Aarons

It is understood that Mikel Arteta's side made an approach to Crystal Palace over Eze after Kai Havertz sustained a knee injury during Arsenal's win against Manchester United on Sunday. Arsenal are continuing to assess the injury but fear that the German forward could be absent for an extended period, even if the early indications are that it is not extremely serious. But the uncertainty prompted Arsenal to accelerate their interest in Eze, with sources indicating they have remained in contact with the 27-year-old's representatives all summer.

Tottenham had looked in pole position to sign him after stepping up their interest over the weekend and are believed to have agreed a deal worth close to his release clause of £68m, which expired last week.

Yet with Arteta keen to add to his attacking reinforcements as they attempt to become champions for the first time since 2004, it is understood the sporting director, Andrea Berta, and vice-chairman, Tim Lewis, contacted Palace yesterday to gazump their north London rivals.