Eberechi Eze to Arsenal transfer price rockets as Andrea Berta faces £67m release clause dilemma

Eberechi Eze'srelease clause values him at £67.5million. As ever in football and the transfer market,a player's true value is whatever another team is willing to pay for them.

It is not just his goals and assists, his mazy dribbles, or his flair that puts him at this level. Crystal Palace ultimately have a very big say. His worth to them impacts what other teams have to pay.

Being the best or most important player for someone may well lead to the price going up. Comparing transfer fees across the market does not really work.

Deals between two Premier League clubs are more expensive because there is a price to pay for weakening a possible rival. Then there is the financial point, Premier League teams know better than anyone that they can afford to demand higher prices and also pay them. This matters when judging how much to spend and where the cut off is.

For Eze and Arsenal, his release clause is a guide. It is not the only way to a deal. Arsenal have already shown a willingness to commit to higher payments in total if it means favourable structures.

This could be via a lower lump sum up front or pushing more towards add-ons.The Gunners will end up giving Real Sociedad almost £9million more than Martin Zubimendi's release clause but it means they do not have to shell out in one go.

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Similar tactics are being used with Palace as talks remain ongoing for the player. Eze's release clause expires before the start of the Premier League, which is less than two weeks away, but that is not thought to be a problem.

Arsenal have their own internal valuation of Eze and Palace want £35million up front in any deal. As the likely final incoming of the window, there is time.

Eddie Nketiah's move last summer means that there has been positive dialogue between the two parties in the recent past which goes to help Arsenal as well. The question is, how far are Arsenal willing to go? What is Eze really worth to them and what is his value to Palace?

The release clause is a marker but does not have to be final. According to Transfermarkt, Eze should cost closer to £48million but that feels low.

This is a very basic estimate from a crowd-sourced stats site, but does follow the general trend. Eze's market value has risen substantially throughout his career. From bossing the Championship with Queens Park Rangers to a steady but bright introduction to Premier League life, he has been on the up almost without fail.

Eze formed a brilliant relationship with Michael Olise and then took on the mantle left behind when Bayern Munich came calling. He is an England international, an FA Cup winner, and Palace's best player. At 27, he is experienced and still rising in the world game.

How do you attach a figure to this beyond the release clause? And how far past it would Arsenal be willing to go if things get desperate?

It is Andrea Berta's job to negotiate all of this and the many factors involved. Getting creative with transfers is just one of the many tasks he has to manage, but there may be no other way to getting Eze through the door.