Arsenal icon Ian Wright has voiced his concern about the potential departure of three integral figures at the club, including starlet Bukayo Saka. The north London outfit has soared to title-contending heights under boss Mikel Arteta’s guidance, with homegrown hero Saka playing a pivotal role.
Despite Saka’s contract ticking down with a little over two years left, the focus also shifts towards the solid defensive duo Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, who are secured until 2027 but could be swayed if not tied down with fresh terms. Pointing to a scenario echoing Liverpool’s recent contract dilemmas, Wright said: “When you’re talking about renewals with certain players, Saka, Gabriel [Magalhaes], Saliba, the way they’re moving now, I bet those renewals are all going to be slow.
“We’re going to have a situation maybe like Liverpool with Trent [Alexander-Arnold], [Mohamed] Salah and Virgil [Van Dijk]. If I’m one of these players, and their teams are going to be saying, ‘Let’s wait and see, we’ve got two years left so let’s wait and see who they get in the summer. I know the manager has signed again but let’s wait and see’.
“If they’re not going to get the kind of players that take us to the next step, look at Saliba. Real Madrid would take him tomorrow. Why not wait and see what’s going on in the summer to see the kind of players and calibre of player we’re signing. This is what the people upstairs need to be careful of.
“I’m sure Mikel will have told them that because he’s probably got the same kind of ambition: if you’re not going to give me the kind of players I need, I’m not going to be able to keep the players I’ve got here that are our best players, who are now running down their contracts.
“We haven’t even got into that conversation yet about these players. This summer and who comes is f****** vitally important to these players. There’s a lot going on right now that needs to be unpacked by these people upstairs and they better get it right. They better get it right.”
Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold are out of contract in a matter of months’ time, with talks seemingly ongoing over renewals. Alexander-Arnold looks the most unlikely of the three to sign a new deal with the Reds amid ongoing links with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
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