CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has said that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have “genuine interest” in signing Bukayo Saka from Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
However, according to the journalist in TEAMtalk, Saka will sign a new contract with Arsenal and commit his long-term future to the Gunners.
Jacobs has added that even defending Premier League champions Manchester City felt that they were unlikely to be able to bring the 21-year-old to the Etihad Stadium in the summer transfer window.
Saka, who has earned 26 caps for England, has established himself as one of the best players for Arsenal and is one of the best young wingers on the planet.
Manchester City linked with Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka
Jacobs said: “There was genuine interest from Manchester City. But even Manchester City felt like it was a case of playing the long game.
“And the beauty when you’re in the form of Saka and you’re negotiating is that there’s always a possibility of inserting player-led clauses that effectively allow you to have your cake and eat it.
“Six months or so ago, that was perhaps the thinking on Saka’s side that he had a desire to stay at Arsenal. And he knew that of course the club would pull out stops to try and keep him so in the short term, the player was always untouchable.
“And then in the long term, can the player get something that says: Well, if the project changes, for example, no Champions League football, you have the opportunity to leave at which point suitors realise that they might stand a chance in the long term but not in the short term.”
HITC Verdict: Summer exit was always unlikely
Bukayo Saka has come through the Arsenal academy, and it is always unlikely that the Gunners will sell him anytime soon, especially as he is so good.
Saka has the potential to become a world-class player in the future.
Arsenal are a club on the up who could win the Premier League title this season.
And the Gunners will be aiming to challenge for the UEFA Champions League as well in the coming years.
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