Bristol City is reportedly Arsenal’s first-choice loan destination for Eddie Nketiah despite interest from Leeds United.

The 20-year-old forward is understood to be set to leave the Gunners on loan for the 2019/20 campaign despite impressing in pre-season.

The Robins are believed to have been pursuing Nketiah throughout the summer as they look to add more firepower to Lee Johnson’s squad.

However, it appears they’re set to face some strong competition from Leeds as Marcelo Bielsa is thought to want the striker to play a key role as Kemar Roofe’s replacement.

According to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, Ashton Gate is the Premier League club’s first-choice loan location for Nketiah.

A quick, direct forward who is dangerous getting in behind defences, the 20-year-old has made 19 senior appearances for Arsenal and found the net three times.

He made the switch across London from the Chelsea academy to the Arsenal academy in 2015 and has developed through the Gunners youth sides, scoring a total of 43 goals in 54 games for the Arsenal under-18s and under-23s.

If Leeds were to beat City to the signing of Nketiah, it would be Johnson’s second defeat at the hands of the Whites in a week after they were beaten 3-1 at Ashton Gate on the opening weekend of the Championship season.

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The Verdict

This looks like a blow to Leeds chances of signing the 20-year-old but I would not write them off just yet.

Given City’s record taking young strikers on loan, it would be an understandable stance for Arsenal to take.

Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham had his breakthrough season in senior football at the club in 2016/17, scoring 26 goals, and now looks set to feature for the first-team in the 2019/20 campaign.

However, with Roofe leaving for Anderlecht and Bielsa understood to want Nketiah to play a key role, the argument could certainly be made by Leeds that the experience he gains with a team who are likely to be battling at the very top of the Championship will be more beneficial to his development.

Arsenal look set on a loan for Nketiah, so we will find out who wins the race for the forward before the transfer window closes on Thursday.