Arsenal files: Bukayo Saka and Gabriel contract update as Real Madrid consider transfer punt on £100m Gunners star
A MONUMENTAL summer awaits Arsenal with incomings and departures aplenty.
But there is also a pressing need to tie down their Holy Trinity for the foreseeable future.
Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel are all out of contract in June 2027 – a daunting prospect with Mikel Arteta’s Emirates project so close to landing major silverware after five years of promise and progress.
This simply cannot become a saga that is dragged into next season.
Liverpool are a prime example of the mess it can cause with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold set to walk away in a few months.
But Arsenal fans can be fairly confident of avoiding a similar meltdown with Arteta at the helm – a manager who has the knack when it comes to convincing world class talent that North London is the place to be, and that the future remains bright and exciting.
Arteta’s ability to win one trophy since December 2019 while keeping hold of his best players and strengthening year on year – as well as maintaining the trust and support of the board and the majority of the fan base – should not be underestimated.
And when it comes to correcting a turned head or wandering eye of a player considering his options, Arteta often finds the right words to enthuse and motivate – just like Sir Alex Ferguson did in those early United days before finally tasting league glory in 1993.
Arteta is honest and respectful, but he is also ruthless and direct.
Behind the scenes, he enjoys heated debates with his staff and players during good times and bad to constantly get the very best out of them and to never feel comfortable.
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When trying to land new players, Arteta plays an active role in the negotiation process, a dominant voice in presentations that leaves those in the room in awe of his level of tactical detail and immense personalisation and passion.
Battling Manchester City for Declan Rice’s signature in the summer of 2023, Arteta and ex-sporting director Edu double-teamed the sit-down discussions in person, using the analogy of: ‘The train is leaving – are you getting on board?’
Rice’s camp had met with several clubs but Arsenal and Arteta’s proposal had blown everyone else’s out of the water.
The art of persuasion is also about subtlety, knowing when to push and when to back off.
Granit Xhaka was practically out the door in October 2019 after being booed off by his fans and stripped of the captaincy by Unai Emery before Arteta took over two months later.
In a heartfelt sit-down with Xhaka in his office, Arteta pleaded with the player to stay until the end of the season, but said he would respect his decision with his family a priority.
Xhaka ended up staying, signed a new contract a year later and played a vital role in Arsenal’s transformation into title challengers before departing in July 2023.
Talks on horizon
So what of Saka, Saliba and Gabriel? SunSport understands that Arsenal are keen to hold talks with the trio in the coming months. The club’s policy in the past has been to avoid allowing top talents getting into the last two years of their deals.
But Arteta is usually hesitant to get into negotiations mid-season. On this occasion, they still have a Champions League quarter final to look forward to.
While a deal for Hale End star Saka, 23, is a formality, Arteta knows Real Madrid are sniffing around Frenchman Saliba. In the unlikely event Arsenal were open to selling, he would be valued well past the £100m mark.
At 24, Saliba has spoken of his desire to one day be the best defender in the world, and recognises he is best placed to continue his development in the Premier League under Arteta – so long as Arsenal are competing for and winning major titles, which is now the case.
Gabriel, 27, has eye-watering interest from Saudi Arabia. A move was blocked in August 2023 which saw Arteta briefly drop the Brazilian to make sure his performances would not suffer as a result.
He has since emerged as one of the Prem’s most complete players and his family is settled and loving life in London.
Arteta has Arsenal’s prestige and history on his side, pointing to the fact this group can go down as club legends if they lift a Prem or European title.
Saliba and Gabriel are coming into their peak years. Uprooting now – with a World Cup next summer – would be a huge risk to their form.
There will also be a nudge towards their rivals. While Manchester City are undergoing a major rebuild, Arne Slot’s Liverpool may well lose three of their best players to contract disputes this summer.
There is a belief within the club that Arsenal are perfectly positioned to take advantage next term, especially as they look set to finally end their search for a top No.9 this summer – the missing piece.
Getting all three to commit by the start of next season will be a huge relief, but Arsenal are confident in Arteta’s power of persuasion.
THE NUMBERS BEHIND ISAK VS EKITIKE
ALEXANDER ISAK is the striker all Arsenal fans want to see arrive this summer.
But should Newcastle stand firm in their stance that he is not for sale, Mikel Arteta will have to look elsewhere.
SunSport revealed this week that Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is being monitored as an alternative, and the young Frenchman compares well to Isak.
Ekitike was even targeted by Newcastle before they signed the Swede.
The France Under-21 international has a similar profile to the Toon forward, tall and imposing but sharp on the ball and blessed with pace.
While Isak has four more goals in five fewer games, Ekitike has three more assists and is not far behind when it comes to goal contributions per 90 minutes with 0.88 compared to the Newcastle man’s stunning 0.97.
The 22-year-old spent half of the season playing alongside Omar Marmoush before the Egyptian’s move to Manchester City and has stepped up since his departure.
Ekitike bagged three goals in the two games after Marmoush left for The Etihad.
The stats show that the Frankfurt forward is constantly involved up top, having more shots and shots on target compared to Isak per game, though the latter has a better conversion rate.
While Isak is clearly the more complete forward, any signing which isn’t the £150million rated Newcastle striker will have an element of risk.
Ekitike is confident that, after learning a lot during his struggles at Paris Saint-Germain, he is ready to take the next step.
A PIECE OF CAKE FOR NWANERI
SUNSPORT can exclusively reveal that Ethan Nwaneri was given celebratory cupcakes on the plane back from England U21 duty this week to celebrate his 18th birthday.
And the Hale End star has left a lasting impression on his Young Lions teammates, not just from his brilliant debut goal in the 4-2 win over Portugal at the Hawthorns on Monday.
SunSport understands that Nwaneri, along with Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson – formerly of the Arsenal academy – were often the last ones to leave the training pitches at St George’s Park during their international camp.
His professionalism, attitude and mentality are second to none, highly impressive for someone of his age and limited experience so far.
There are those in the FA and the England senior set-up who feel it is only a matter of time before Nwaneri struts his stuff in the seniors under Thomas Tuchel.
MERINO’S BUSY BREAK
MIKEL MERINO has not taken his foot off the pedal during this international break.
The Arsenal midfielder – currently deputising as a striker with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out for the season – played a combined 12 minutes off the bench across two Nations League games for Spain against the Netherlands, scoring in last week’s 2-2 draw.
But not satisfied with that, he also visited his old pals back at former club Real Sociedad.
He then got in some extra strength and conditioning training with trusted Spanish personal trainer Miguel Azanza.
After breaking his shoulder in his first Arsenal training session following his summer switch, Merino has been working overtime to ensure he remains fit and available for Arteta.
The work with Azanza included weighted ball throws and band work to maintain his shoulder strength heading into the home stretch to the season.
SunSport understands Arteta and Arsenal’s coaching staff have been impressed with Merino’s physicality and competitiveness in training sessions, not one to hold back in challenges and aerial duels with teammates.