Arsenal set to accelerate contract renewal talks with Bukayo Saka

Arsenal are to ramp up their attempts to tie Bukayo Saka down by offering him a new contract amid reports that Manchester City view their youngster as Raheem Sterling's dream replacement.

England international Sterling, who has played a key role for City during Pep Guardiola's era, recently completed his £45million switch to Chelsea.

And City have already identified international colleague Saka, who is regarded as a homegrown player, as their prime long-term target to replace the departed 27-year-old in Guardiola's squad.

In a window where we have seen players move from one title rival to the other, even Arsenal and Manchester City have done business as Gabriel Jesus switched from the Etihad Stadium to the Emirates Stadium.

The Premier League champions' indicated interest in 20-year-old Saka is probably to add a layer of complication to the Gunners' attempts to sign their academy graduate to a new contract.

At the moment, the youngster has less than two years left on his current deal, with talks over a long-term extension - that would make Saka one of the club's best-paid players - ongoing.

Regardless of City's pursuit, the feeling at the EMirates is that Saka can be persuaded to sign a new deal; although any agreements that could ease any future departure may prove key towards a successful resolution.

Failing to qualify for the forthcoming season's Champions League arrived as a blow to Arsenal's hopes of convincing Saka his long-term future remains in north London.

Saka leaving the Gunners quite unlikely

The forward, widely recognized as one of European football's most talented youngsters, has grown to become one of his side's most important players.

At a time when the side is looking stronger than the squad they paraded last season, it remains highly unlikely that Arsenal will consider selling Saka this summer as Mikel Arteta.  

Having already signed Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Viera, the Gunners are now concentrating on securing a deal for City's Oleksandr Zinchenko - a move first revealed by Sportsmail in May.

But the prospect of City moving for Saka in either January or next summer's window will escalate if Arsenal fails to sign him to a new contract.

However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be hoping Saka commits his long-term future to the Gunners.

 

 

 

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