“We offered him a huge amount of salary just to come to Brighton last year but Arteta blocked the move. This year, we will try to sign him”- Brighton Boss Roberto De Zerbi revealed Brighton offered Arsenal’s ‘electric’ player was offered a shocking £130k-p/w deal last year but Arteta blocked the deal

Brighton offered Arsenal player £130-a-week deal last year before he opted to stay – journalist

Journalist James Benge has shared the contract Brighton offered Reiss Nelson before Arsenal managed to convince the winger to sign a new deal last year not to join De Zerbi’s Brighton.

Reiss Nelson is one player who may perhaps attract offers in the January transfer window. The 24-year-old, once again, has struggled for minutes at the Emirates so far this season.

The wide-man’s nine appearances in the Premier League have all come from the bench. In total, he has only managed to make three starts in all competitions.

Brighton offered Reiss Nelson £130,000-a-week contract

Nelson did impress in the Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven in December, setting up the Gunners goal which was scored by Eddie Nketiah. But that remains his only goal or assist since the end of September.

Arsenal handed Nelson a new contract in July. And it seems that the Gunners did indeed push the boat out to keep him, with Benge suggesting on Charles Watts’ YouTube channel that the academy graduate had some tempting offers on the table.

“Nelson had offers from Milan. Brighton offered him £100,000-a-week+. Arsenal went, ‘stay here Reiss, we’ll give you £100,000-a-week. We’ll pay you more than anyone else is offering to stay’.

They have to be used, or they should have gone then. Even Nelson, £100,000-a-week over a four-year deal, that’s £20 million,” he said.

Winger will be concerned about his future after another quiet season

Arsenal will probably be vindicated if they manage to sell Nelson for a significant fee. However, as Benge suggests, receiving that big fee becomes less and less likely as he spends more and more time on the bench.

He scored three goals – including that strike against Bournemouth – and contributed two assists in 11 Premier League appearances last season. And yet, that was not enough to secure a lot more game-time in this campaign.

Nelson would ideally love to make the grade at Arsenal and become a key player.

However, he turned 24 in December. He will not want to watch his development stagnate. So it really does feel, from the outside, as though it is getting to the stage where it may suit all parties for a move away to be agreed.