According to The Guardian, Arsenal are set to offer Hector Bellerin and Granit Xhaka new contracts, despite the fact they’ve both been strongly linked with an exit.
Now, new deals don’t necessarily mean both players will be staying at Arsenal, but it does protect the Gunners’ valuable assets, and also increases both players’ market value.
Of course, offering these deals is something of a calculated risk from Arsenal. On one hand, they’re protecting themselves against the possibility of both men leaving for free in 2023, but on the other hand, they’re offering extensions on two players who they seemingly don’t have big plans for.
This could prove to be a masterstroke or a tremendous waste of money, but it is certainly an interesting strategy.
Both men have been strongly linked with a move to Serie A this summer, with Roma reportedly in for Xhaka and Inter supposedly looking at Bellerin, but with both clubs struggling to meet Arsenal’s asking price and terms, it’s been tough for the Gunners to shift them.
Keeping hold of both players could be something of a blessing in disguise. Let’s not forget that Xhaka had a brilliant Euro 2020 and has been labelled as ‘phenomenal’ in the past, while on his day, Bellerin is one of the better right-backs in England.
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