Connect with us

NewsNow

Arsenal planning “mega-contract” for £58m star that, along with his agents, is “very interested in” Liverpool switch

Bukayo Saka

Liverpool are interested in Bukayo Saka but Arsenal are looking to tie the forward down to a new “mega-contract” after halving their wage bill following Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s departure.

The Gunners parted ways with the Gabon international in the January transfer window and have saved around £25million due to the wages they will not have to pay him and they reportedly want to use these savings to keep Saka at the Emirates.

According to Four Four Two, a “mega-contract” is planned for the Arsenal forward to ward off interest from Liverpool and Manchester City amid interest from the Premier League’s leading clubs.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Newcastle United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - November 27, 2021 Arsenal's Bukayo Saka reacts after sustaining an injury Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

He still has two and a half years remaining on his deal which takes him until the summer of 2024 but the Emirates hierarchy are acting proactively to ensure they’re not vulnerable to approaches from the more ambitious sides able to offer Champions League football and silverware.

Of course, a lucrative contract doesn’t necessarily mean top players don’t dream of these things as Liverpool fans will be aware of as Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho both left Anfield shortly after penning extensions to their own contracts.

Top players want top careers and if Saka, currently valued at £58m, continues his career progression, it won’t be long before he will want a team to match his talent and Liverpool could be that team although I do wonder how Jurgen Klopp’s planned departure from Merseyside in 2024 would impact a decision like this.

Bukayo Saka

Liverpool are interested in Saka, according to Ian McGarry, who reported on the Transfer Podcast on New Year’s Day that “Liverpool would provide the opportunity and platform for him to play and compete at the highest level and that would certainly be something that I’m told he and his representatives are very interested in.”

McGarry’s claim hasn’t been corroborated anywhere else so it’s difficult to ascertain if it’s true or not but I’d love Saka at Anfield.

He doesn’t have the same natural pace as Mohamed Salah does but he could be the no.11’s heir at Liverpool although he needs to be playing regularly to fulfil his potential which is an issue as he wouldn’t be able to play on the right if he moved to Merseyside.

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal scores a goal to make it 0-1 during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal FC at Molineux on July 4, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Sam Bagnall - AMA/Getty Images)

If Salah signs a new contract and stays at Liverpool which is still a major doubt, there is no way Saka gets into the starting XI ahead of him.

The Egyptian is the best in his position in the world but it would be invaluable for Saka to get at least one season to learn directly from the former Chelsea star.

Of course, as an Arsenal Academy graduate, Saka may have ambitions of staying at the club and making a success of himself in London which I understand would have more sentimental value to him than moving to Liverpool and winning silverware with the Reds.