Report: Club ready to hand ‘best player’ pay rise, after he’s linked with Liverpool transfer

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Arsenal want to hand Bukayo Saka a new contract as Liverpool reportedly look into signing the player this summer. The winger is a big, big talent.

The Athletic reports that Arsenal are starting contract talks with Bukayo Saka. The youngster’s current deal expires in 2023, though the Gunners have an option to extend it by another year.

Though, that might not be enough to keep Saka content at the club. This deal arrived in 2020 but he’s improved quite a lot since then, leaving him on a salary that doesn’t quite match his importance to the club.

Garth Crooks labelled him Arsenal’s ‘best player’ earlier this season, for one example. Reaching that level by the age of 20 is something very special and the club will naturally want another long-term contract.

But it also brings interest from elsewhere. ESPN claimed last month that Liverpool had their eyes on Saka and this contract situation. They’re not alone in that – Manchester City are also watching – but the Reds hold a long-standing interest here, having been first linked over two years ago.

Bukayo Saka and Liverpool

It makes complete sense for Arsenal to offer Saka a new deal, of course, but it’s particularly important to do it now. They’re having a great season, after all, and have a great shot at finishing in the top four.

Champions League football is apparently something very important to Saka and Arsenal could struggle to get a new deal without it. The watching Liverpool will hope to see them fade away a little, perhaps opening the door to a transfer.

And it’s a transfer that makes a lot of sense to us. Saka would be a wonderfully useful signing for plenty of reasons – albeit an expensive one this summer.

Still, the Reds will want to watch this one closely as Arsenal try to fend of their interest.