AC Milan taking drastic measures to stop £52m star from joining Arsenal

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AC Milan are reportedly doing everything they can to sign Ismael Bennacer to a new contract amid reports that Arsenal are interested in their former academy superstar.

According to CalcioMercato, the reigning Serie A champions are willing to double the Algerian international’s salary in order to keep Bennacer at Milan, with transfer interest in the midfield maestro rising in recent months after the 24-year-old’s role in last season’s Scudetto win.

CalcioMercatoWeb recently reported that Arsenal were interested in signing Bennacer, who spent two years in north London as a youngster before moving to Empoli in 2017, with the report stating that the Gunners are open to offering £17m plus Thomas Partey for the £52m-rated midfielder.

Whilst the details of a potential deal seem bombastic given the Ghanaian’s importance to Mikel Arteta’s side, Arsenal’s interest in Bennacer does seem legit, with central midfield a position that the north London side are eager to improve on in the January transfer window.

Which is why Milan are now seemingly working in overdrive mode to sign Bennacer to a new contract, with the midfielder’s current deal set to expire in 2024 as a potential departure from the San Siro looms over Stefan Pioli’s side.

Indeed, Arsenal’s interest in Bennacer might play a big role in the midfielder’s decision to stay or leave Italy next year. Yet with Milan going all out to sign the 24-year-old down to a new contract, the effort could convince the Algerian to stay in Lombardy with the Rossoneri.

Bennacer signing new Milan contract will be a blow for Arsenal

Arsenal have made it a habit of selling Hale End academy starlets who have gone on to impress in football, with Bennacer firmly in the top-tier of players who the Gunners really should have kept hold of, alongside the likes of Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane.

Which is why Bennacer signing a new contract with Milan will be such a blow for Arsenal, with the Algerian international the perfect midfielder to come in during the January window as Arteta looks to take his squad to the next level by expanding on the depth beyond the starting XI.