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Arsenal push to tie up Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli deals - Fabrizio Romano
Arsenal are ready to make a major push to complete contract extensions for a trio of key youngsters in their table-topping side, Fabrizio Romano reports.
After beating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (6 November) the Gunners returned to the top of the Premier League, and they want to ensure the successful components they currently have remain in place for the long-term.
Star England attacker Bukayo Saka, his Brazilian counterpart Gabriel Martinelli, and France international defender William Saliba all have new deals on the table, with the Emirates hierarchy now reportedly ready to push to get them tied up.
Romano said on his YouTube channel on Monday (7 November, 2min 15sec): “For William Saliba there is a proposal on the table and Saliba is really considering this proposal, so there are conversations ongoing, Arsenal are really optimistic.
“But the decision is to go really strong on these new contract talks in the next weeks and months.
“William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal will push to extend all these contracts. They are optimistic in all the negotiations.
“For Saliba there is a proposal on the table. For Bukayo Saka, since February, Arsenal are in direct talks with his agents and they feel that the player wants to stay, so negotiations are progressing well.
“With Gabriel Martinelli they are pushing and pushing again in the next days and weeks. They are really optimistic on Martinelli.
“The contract is until 2024 and I’m told there is an option to extend for a further season so Arsenal feel relaxed on this Martinelli story but they want to give him an improved contract.”
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Things are certainly looking bright at the Emirates these days, and Mikel Arteta appears to be proving the virtue of sticking with a manager through hard times if there is a plan.
The youthful revolution also means that there is scope for the key players in this team to stay together for some years if they can manage the squad correctly, so success could be lasting.
Clearly Edu is working on locking down these three key players for the long-term, and it is some vindication of the system at Arsenal that they are all so important at 21.
Success on the field is sure to be a very strong negotiating tool on both sides of the talks, as the better things are going as a whole, and the greater the chances of silverware at the end of the season, the more likely it is players will want to remain a part of the project.
With everyone performing so well currently however, the players’ representatives will feel emboldened to request stronger terms.
That is no doubt why it is taking some time to get done, but if all three commit it would be a huge boost to Arteta, and to a fanbase that has spent plenty of years outside the top bracket in England and are clearly eager to ensure this return is consolidated.
In other Arsenal news, Reiss Nelson has admitted extending his own deal is a priority.