The latest reports about Buakyo Saka’s contract renewal will make for interesting reading for Liverpool fans.
The Reds have recently been credited with an interest in the Arsenal man (ESPN), who’s current deal runs until 2024.
According to The Daily Mail, Arsenal have made extending their academy product’s contract a ‘priority’. But the report claims that will become ‘significantly harder’ should The Gunners fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Liverpool are seemingly well on course to be in Europe’s top competition for a sixth year in succession.
Of course, there is still a large chunk of the season to go. But Jurgen Klopp’s side currently hold a nine point lead and a game in hand over fifth placed Manchester United.
That could make The Reds an appealing destination for Saka, who is yet to play in the Champions League.
Could a deal actually happen
On the face of it, it looks unlikely that Arsenal would allow Liverpool to snatch one of their best players.
But given that Saka will be entering the final two years of his contract in the summer, something has to give.
His wages are reported to be currently at around £35,000 per week. Any new deal Arsenal offer would be said to put him in line with the club’s highest earners.
Now that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is off the books, it may be that the London club have more of a wage budget to play with than Liverpool.
But if playing in the Champions League really is his priority, it looks probable that he might have to leave the club he’s been at since the age of seven to do so.
The transfer fee may prove to be a stumbling block. But with time running out on his contract and the player not wanting to commit to a new one, Saka may be available at a knock-down price.
Do Liverpool need him
Saka could be a very handy option for Liverpool. He has already played a number of positions for Arsenal, but looks most comfortable on the right cutting in onto his left foot.
Klopp has a certain Mohamed Salah currently occupying that position.
Salah’s own contract issues don’t need any more detailing here. But assuming the Egyptian stays at Anfield, at 20-years-old, Saka is more than young enough to spend a few years shadowing Salah before making the position his own.
The Liverpool manager is aware of his talent. Prior to Liverpool’s meeting against Arsenal in November last year, Klopp called Saka a “young and exciting” player as per football.london.
Liverpool are building a team for the future. It’s great that the club have a number of young English players to work that around.
18-year-old Harvey Elliott is an exceptional talent. 21-year-old Curtis Jones isn’t bad either. Trent Alexander-Arnold is still only 23-year-old and if Liverpool manage to tie up a deal for 19-year-old Fabio Carvalho, that represents a massively exciting core of young English talent at the club.
If the rumours are to be believed, Liverpool also want to add 18-year-old Jude Bellingham to the squad.
Seen through that lens, adding Saka to that list would make all sorts of sense. If he really is looking to leave Arsenal, then Liverpool should get themselves to the front of the queue.
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