February 09, (THEWILL) – There are indications that if Arsenal fails to qualify for the Champions League next season, it may be difficult to persuade Bukayo Saka to sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have slid to sixth position in the Premier League after a severe drop in form that has also seen them exit the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Mikel Arteta’s team has a game in hand on the teams above them, Manchester United and West Ham, but there is no guarantee they will get all three points.
Arsenal is keen to continue their roster overhaul following their successful summer transfer window and a slew of January departures, and a new contract for Saka is part of that.
So far, Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who joined in the summer, have all shone, while the north Londoners have shifted a slew of unwanted fringe players on loan or permanently in the last seven months, including former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had lost Arteta’s trust after one too many disciplinary breaches and left for Barcelona in January.
Arsenal would like to sign two new strikers, a centre-midfielder, and a right-back backup for Tomiyasu, as well as extend Saka’s current contract, which expires in 2024.
However, Saka’s readiness to sign new terms, as well as Arsenal’s overall transfer business, could be determined by their ability to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Arsenal intends to offer the 20-year-old a big pay boost, but it is understood that money will not be a part in his decision. The England international has been linked with Liverpool and both Manchester clubs since Arteta took over in 2019. In that time, he has arguably been the Gunners’ most consistent performer.
The Gunners missed out on a number of transfer targets in January, notably Dusan Vlahovic and Bruno Guimaraes, and it appears that a top-four finish in the summer may be required to avoid losing more targets and keeping their best.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
