Ethan Nwaneri failing to make Marseille inroads despite unique Arsenal transfer clause

Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri joined Marseille on loan in January but the 19-year-old is struggling for playing time under manager Habib Beye

Promising Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri has failed to make a single starting appearance for Marseille in more than two months. This is despite a clause in his contract that sees the loan fee rise the fewer minutes he plays.

Sent to the French club in January in pursuit of vital first-team football, the highly-rated Nwaneri made an immediate impression under Roberto De Zerbi, who has since left and taken charge of Arsenal’s fierce rivals Tottenham, netting on his debut.

However, since the Italian’s exit by mutual consent, incoming boss Habib Beye has clearly not warmed to the 19-year-old forward, leaving him to warm the bench week in week out.

The absence of game time is all the more concerning given reports of Nwaneri’s conduct behind the scenes, and the fact that Marseille’s loan agreement with Arsenal means the French club actually pay less the more the teenager features.

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French publication L’Equipe has reported that throughout the young Englishman’s spell at Marseille, he has displayed a ‘persistent impression of nonchalance’ off the pitch.

It has further emerged that the loan fee Marseille owe Arsenal is directly linked to the number of minutes Nwaneri plays.

In effect, every minute the youngster spends on the bench is costing Marseille money, yet this appears to be of little concern to Beye, who chose not to hand the 19-year-old a single minute of action during his side’s recent 3-1 victory over Metz.

Given these circumstances, Nwaneri will almost certainly be eager to draw a line under his loan spell when he heads back to the Emirates Stadium this summer. The possibility of a permanent switch to France had already been dismissed well before he fell out of favour with Beye.

Speaking in the early stages of his transfer, Nwaneri revealed what drew him to Marseille. He said: “First of all, I think Olympique de Marseille is a very big club.

“The coaches, the fans, the way they play, it’s extraordinary. The fans really give it their all. I think it’s a great opportunity for me. I didn’t hesitate.

“I think that’s why I came. The experience of seeing a big club like this, learning as much as possible, and being able to really add that to my skill set at the end of the season.

“When I came here, obviously I wasn’t yet 100% fit, but I’m working on it. I’ve also spoken with the staff and I think I’ll be able to play more and more. I felt good during the last match. That’s normal, of course, it’s a process. There haven’t been any injuries, so I feel good, honestly.”