Eberechi Eze was left out of Crystal Palace's team for its Conference League playoff match on Thursday amid reports the England forward is about to join Arsenal.

Eberechi Eze has been left out of Crystal Palace ’s matchday squad to face Fredrikstad, with a big-money transfer move to Arsenal looming. Tonight’s Europa Conference League play-off clash had initially been billed as the last chance for Palace supporters to watch Eze in their colours when it appeared the midfielder was on his way to Tottenham.

The future of England and Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze has been one of the major talking points of the current transfer window. It had been thought he would join Tottenham, with a deal agreed between the clubs until their biggest rivals in North London, Arsenal, also reached an agreement with Palace.