Power n Glory wrote:Well, I think Martinelli is also down to his last two years but haven't heard anything about a new contract for him.
Think Martinelli's contract runs up to 2025.
theHotHead wrote:At this point is it even a discussion/negotiation anymore ?! Arsenal have zero leverage !!
Saka - I want a buy out clause of £xxm
Arsenal - No we can't agree to that
Saka - Cool beans, I won't renew my contract then.
Thats negotiation done then, we either give him what he wants or he won't sign, either way its win/win for Saka. Anyone see it any other way ?!!!
It's not that simple, I'm afraid.
Saka is of more value to us than we are to Saka. If he refuses to extend, we still won't be able to sell him this summer. We simply can't afford to let him go at this stage. Next summer, with a year to go in his contract, City or Liverpool would snatch him up for around £40m.
If you recall, Saka, Nketiah, and Balogun share the same agent. The same agent that brokered a £100k a week deal for Nketiah (inclusive of bonuses) and a £40k a week deal for Balogun!
I believe we will buckle down and offer Saka £150-200k a week in wages with a release clause.
This being a World Cup year, it will work in our favor. I doubt Saka would want to disrupt any momentum heading into a World Cup by joining a new team and risking the usual "accomodation" phase just prior to the biggest tournament of his life (so far).
By offering Nketiah £100k in wages, we've essentially doomed ourselves in any negotiation with Saka. £150k is the minimum he'd demand.
All of this was expected. Anyone who's followed Arsenal for more than two minutes knew this would be the case. That's why top-4 was essential this season.
I do think Saka will sign that extension. But he won't be here for more than two seasons.