Liverpool are monitoring Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka as his contract talks with the Gunners rumble on.
The 18-year-old has been one of the few bright sparks for Arsenal since the Premier League restarted on 17 June. Despite the Gunners racking up back-to-back defeats to Man City and Brighton, Saka has been praised by fans and pundits alike for his positive and impactful performances.
This has led to interest from other clubs including runaway league leaders Liverpool. Saka’s current deal expires in September 2021 and so if he doesn’t put pen to paper with Arsenal soon, the north London club may have no choice but to cash in or risk losing him on a free.
According to The Athletic, Saka has signalled his desire to stay at Arsenal but while a new contract looked a formality six months ago the financial impact of Covid-19 has made things more complicated.
However, if he does decide that a move away from the Emirates is best then Liverpool would be the perfect destination for Saka.
In fact, it’s a move that would make sense for both parties.
It’s no secret that a significant part of Liverpool’s attacking impetus comes from the full-back positions. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson’s contribution to the team has been vital to the Reds’ success in recent years with their combined tally of assists in last season’s Premier League totalling 23.
Take one of the two full-backs out of the team and their absence is stark as was evidenced in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Everton. Neither James Milner nor Joe Gomez were able to impact the game in the final third in the way we’ve become accustomed to Robertson doing.
While Neco Williams has proven to be a capable back up for Alexander-Arnold at right-back the void on the left side of the pitch has proven more difficult to plug when Robertson is unavailable.
Saka would certainly be able to help here. Despite seeing himself more as a winger he’s often been deployed as a left-back by Arsenal. And he’s shown the same attacking flair as Liverpool’s fullbacks contributing four assists from the position this season.
Before the league was suspended in March Saka had impressed so much that he was even being touted as a potential left-back for England ahead of the European Championships. With the tournament being moved back a year you can certainly see him challenging Ben Chilwell for the position next summer.
Another thing that makes Saka an attractive commodity to Liverpool is his versatility. This season alone he’s played at left-back, as a right-sided winger and central midfield for Arsenal.
The fact that he’s been trusted in a variety of positions at the tender age of just 18 shows the maturity and level of footballing intelligence he possesses. Something that has been further demonstrated with his fantastic displays in all positions.
Versatility is a hugely attractive quality in a footballer and Saka’s competency in all areas of the field is sure to draw attention from plenty of suitors.
Undoubtedly his biggest strength is his ability to run and go past defenders which has seen him create an abundance of chances for his Arsenal teammates.
It is almost frightening to imagine where this potential could take him if it was to be harnessed by Jürgen Klopp.
For now, Saka remains an Arsenal man and Gunners’ fans will be desperate for the club to keep hold off him. It would be another huge blow if the team let yet another key asset slip through their fingers.
But it does seem that Saka and his club’s current positions are heading in different trajectories with Arsenal desperately trying to avoid slipping into a permanent pattern of mediocrity.
Whatever his final decision it seems that the name Bukayo Saka is one we are going to be hearing for many years to come.