It might be a case of now or never for Eberechi Eze. With two years left to run on his Crystal Palace contract and interest in him running high again, it is prime time to make the big move that his Premier League performances have warranted.

Over three years he has now excelled with 29 goals and 16 assists for a team largely sitting in mid-table. Even his breakthrough campaign in 2020/21 was successful enough as a youngster from the Championship as he contributed to 10 goals.

An injury-hit 2021/22 has fuelled a comeback that now makes him the main man at Selhurst Park. Without Michael Olise, Eze has stepped up. He is a full England international and a jack of all trades.

Across his career, there is hardly a position (outside of defence and goalkeeper) that he hasn't played. From operating on either wing to one of Oliver Glasner's split No.10s (again, on both sides), Eze has done it all.

That, as well as the sense that he is more than ready to take the next steps into Champions League football and a chance at an elite side, makes the coming months massive. Arsenal, searching for attacking quality and depth, are among those interested, football.london understands.

They are after someone to provide backup, competition, and cover for Bukayo Saka on the right but being able to really push Gabriel Martinelli on the left is a bonus. Eze ticks both boxes and could also be a much-needed senior alternative to Martin Odegaard.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta forced into four-year Arsenal transfer change after £70m double deal

READ MORE: Benjamin Sesko to Arsenal transfer price sky rockets in £99m Andrea Berta dilemma

READ MORE: Arsenal one step from unleashing Declan Rice as double transfer plan finally clear

Arsenal had to turn to teenager Ethan Nwaneri when their captain was injured and he also deputized for Saka at points. Someone like Eze is not just a second choice but someone to really provide answers across all of these positions.

You can argue that he fits into a best XI on the left and then becomes first drop on the right and as a No.10. That is the beauty of Eze.

His versatility, as well as the way he moves on the ball and interprets space, means that actually, there are many beauties. His adaptability to different positions and moments within a game or season is masterful.

Take his two goals at Wembley Stadium last month to first get Crystal Palace to the FA Cup and then to win it. Both came from right-sided crosses, something you can imagine Ben White providing from his full-back role. Eze, against Aston Villa, pounced on a ball falling at the edge of the box to curl in during the semi-final.

Then, the way he met a cutback to score in the final was just as impressive. He connected sweetly with a first-time shot in the sort of manner Odegaard made his trademark for the two years preceding 2024/25.

With Eze, you can see him doing both the setting up from the left or the scoring from midfield as a No.10. He can jink inside to be the opposite to Odegaard: a left-leaning attacking midfielder, or a winger.

He is naturally someone who plays more centrally but, like Morgan Rogers, still has plenty to offer even from wide. He is a connecting player who can do the dribbling himself or open up defences with neat passing and interplay. Eze has so many tools at his disposal and it makes him brilliantly unpredictable.

Should a transfer be completed this window, Arteta could put him straight into a new-look front three with one of Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres up front. Saka remains on the right. That gives Eze a target to hit and someone to play off, just as he would with Kai Havertz.

Then, if Arteta needed to change things around at any stage, he could put Eze into a deeper midfield role to add impetus, or swap him for Odegaard. It keeps a host of Arsenal players, including Mikel Merino, Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and then Odegaard and Saka, on their toes.

Simultaneously, Eze offers something new to various parts of the Arsenal squad and also brings depth. He would be playing with better plays and immediately upgrading what is available to Arteta. No matter where Arteta and Arsenal saw Eze fitting in, he would be able to provide.