Mikel Arteta’s effort to cut Arsenal’s pay bill is well underway – and it might go even farther this summer. Arsenal have developed a group that seems hungry and competitive after recruiting younger players in recent transfer windows and cutting connections with veteran stars on larger incomes.
The Gunners may lose another three stars, according to the Mirror, in addition to Alexandre Lacazette, who is leaving. Lacazette, the current stand-in captain, is slated to leave this summer after failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension. Bernd Leno, Nicolas Pepe, and Mohamed Elneny are all possible exit candidates.
The first point of call would be a new contract for star man Bukayo Saka, who Arteta is keen to tie down for even longer. Saka penned a new deal in 2020 but has since developed even since then into one of the most sought-after wingers in world football.
Links to big-name players like Serge Gnabry and Joao Felix mean that the north Londoners may well splash out for expensive new stars, too. The added wage budget would certainly accommodate that.
Links to big-name players like Serge Gnabry and Joao Felix mean that the north Londoners may well splash out for expensive new stars, too. The added wage budget would certainly accommodate that.
“We are going to have some contracts that are ending in the summer and we are going to have to make a decision regarding where we are and we have the option to do that,” Arteta recently said.
“We have players on loan that we are developing as well to understand where they can be and how much of a contribution they can have in the squad and obviously we are going to have to sign players in the summer, that’s without a question of a doubt.
“That’s something that we discuss here internally, with [director] Edu personally all the time, with the team. You have to raise those ideas and the vision you have towards the owners, which are completely in line and they have been extremely supportive with us.”