Darren Bent has urged Arsenal to follow Gabriel Martinelli’s new contract by locking down Bukayo Saka. The Brazilian is close to signing a new four-and-a-half-year deal at the club.
But Bent believes it is Saka to who Arsenal must give a new contract with the England star only tied down to 2024. The Gunners last afforded the 21-year-old a new deal in July 2020. His extension took the winger’s wage up from £30k-a-weeek to £70k-a-week, per Spotrac.
Reports by football.london earlier in the month claimed that Arsenal have triggered a one-year extension in Saka’s contract until 2024. Yet the Emirates stadium hierarchy are still in talks with the forward’s camp for a long-term extension, which are progressing positively.
Arsenal are eager to see Saka commit to a new, long-term contract given his importance in Mikel Arteta’s side. The 24-cap dynamo has tormented Premier League left-backs this term for seven goals and seven assists. Only Martin Odegaard (8) has scored more under Arteta.
Yet Martinelli is the next player in line to pen a new contract at Arsenal. The Athletic notes that the Brazilian will soon sign a new contract through to 2027. The winger has agreed to personal terms with the Gunners. He will also bank a pay rise on his £90k-a-week contract.
Bent urges Arsenal to get Saka to sign a new contract after Martinelli’s
Bent believes Martinelli signing a new contract with Arsenal is ‘fantastic news’ as the £6m Ituano product’s form is ‘phenomenal’. But the Gunners-supporting ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker now wants to see the north London club get Saka to pen a new contract of his own.
“The next one is Saka,” Bent told talkSPORT. “He’s the one that you need to tie down. If you speak to Saka and you listen to him speak when he’s doing interviews and he talks about his upbringing and he’s a straight-A student. So, he’s obviously incredibly clever.
“He’s not a player who when he gets the money will go off the rails, not in the slightest. If anything, he’ll go the other way and be more heavily involved in the community and start giving back. But the money in football is just crazy.”
With Saka yet to pen a new contract, clubs have started showing an interest in his transfer from Arsenal. Dean Jones reports that Liverpool and Manchester City are tracking the Hale End product. While CalcioMercatoWeb has also linked Juventus with the winger’s services.
Manchester City could even send Jack Grealish to Arsenal in return for Saka’s transfer, also per Jones. But Arsenal will certainly be reluctant to see their academy graduate depart the club. Yet they may have to hope Bent’s bold prediction of money not affecting Saka is true.
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