Reported Liverpool transfer target Bukayo Saka has re-iterated his desire to play in the Champions League in an interview with Sky Sports.
The 20-year-old has recently been linked with Liverpool. The Reds, along with Manchester City, are said to be “watching his progress”, and could make a move in the summer (ESPN).
“I think the Champions League creates so many special nights and it’s a dream for me still to experience one of them and hopefully many more of them,” the 20-year-old said.
Saka, at the time, was talking about achieving that ‘dream’ with Arsenal, but the comments could add further fuel to the fire that a departure is not impossible, should the Gunners fail to make it into the top four next season.
Saka’s words come amid rumours that Arsenal will find it ‘significantly harder’ to keep the player should they miss out on the Champions League again next season (The Daily Mail).
The full-back turned winger, who has seven goals in 22 appearances this season, is out of contact in 2024.
If they aren’t able to renew terms with Saka in the next six months, his contract will tick down into the last two years.
That could leave the door open for a seasoned Champions League club, such as Liverpool, to swoop in.
No guarantees
Despite Saka being at Arsenal from the age of seven, there are ‘no guarantees’ that he will be at the club next season.
That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who told GiveMeSport that there are “plenty of clubs who would love to sign him.”
“From what I know on the Saka situation, I don’t think it’s possible to guarantee he stays beyond this season,” said Jones.
“Obviously Arsenal want him to commit but he has to careful about tying himself down long-term if there is no guarantee of Champions League football or clear signs of success on the horizon. There are plenty of clubs who would love to sign him.”
One of those clubs should be Liverpool. It isn’t often that a player of Saka’s potential becomes available.
The England international was excellent in last summer’s European Championship. He was unfortunate enough to miss the decisve spot-kick in the final. But until then he’d been fantastic for Gareth Southgate’s side.
This led to former Liverpool and Arsenal man Michael Thomas calling his performances during the tournament “brilliant” and “immense” via Caughtoffside.
Saka’s wish to play in the Champions League is something Liverpool look like being capable of offering next season. This could yet be one to keep an eye on.
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