admin
LONDON. — Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has hinted that his future may lie at the Emirates Stadium for the coming years after making a major investment at the Emirates Stadium.
Saka is attracting interest from Manchester City and Liverpool with the 21-year-old still yet to sign a new contract with the Gunners. The England international’s current deal is set to expire in 2024 but Arsenal remain “confident” of tying Saka down to a new long-term deal as Mikel Arteta looks to build a team capable of challenging for trophies once again.
The 21-year-old has registered five goal contributions in nine appearances so far this season and was influential in the Gunners’ 3-1 North London Derby win over Tottenham at the weekend. The Hale End graduate featured 38 times for Arteta’s side in the English Premier League last season, directly contributing towards 18 goals, showing his potential at such a young age with his best years still ahead of him.
Despite interest increasing from the likes of City and Liverpool, Saka has hinted that his future will be in north London for the years ahead after “personally investing” in an executive box at the Emirates Stadium indicating that he wishes to stay at the club, as per The Daily Mail. Arsenal main priority is to agree a contract renewal with the 21-year-old as soon as possible, and their current form puts them in a strong position to convince Saka to stay and play a key role in Arteta’s team for years to come.
There’s no doubt that City would be able to offer the England international a more enticing wage package and almost guarantee of trophies and accolades, but given the fact Saka has risen through the ranks at Arsenal and now is one of their key players, he may want to lead his boyhood club back to their glory days. The Gunners have “formerly offered” a new £200 000 a week contract which would see Saka become one of the highest earners at the club, though it remains lower than the likes of Phil Foden at City, who recently signed a new £225 000 a week deal.
It could be suggested that the Arsenal star is under-selling himself by staying at the Emirates Stadium, but his passion and desire to lead the club back to the top of the Premier League and return to the UEFA Champions League may be an overriding factor in his decision. The Gunners are said to be willing to include a clause that could allow Saka the option to leave the club should they fail to qualify for Champions League football.
Ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ranked his former side just below City in the race for this season’s Premier League title. Speaking on beIN Sports, Wenger said: “Personally I would put Arsenal just behind Manchester City. Arsenal are the second best team to have a good chance at winning the Premiership.”
Meanwhile, Jermaine Jenas believes Arsenal need to sign a midfielder to compete with Thomas Partey in the January transfer window.
Mikel Arteta’s side currently lead the way in the English Premier League having won seven out of their first eight games this season.
Arsenal’s latest victory came on Saturday as they ran out 3-1 winners over north London rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.
Partey scored the opener for the Gunners against Spurs and went on to deliver a performance which saw him voted as “man of the match” by the club’s supporters.
But Jenas believes Arsenal need to strengthen their central midfield options in order to maintain their current form.
“You can’t rely on him,” Jenas said of Partey on Vibe with Five.
“If I was Edu that would be the first position I’m going for in January, or the summer (transfer window), because you can’t rely on him. — Metro
Online Reporter