Why Arsenal and Tottenham could still sign Lautaro despite Inter contract extension

Stefan Bienkowski

• Updated: 28 Oct 2021 19:39 BST
• 7 min read

The news of Inter signing star striker Lautaro Martinez up to a new deal until 2026 would have come as grim news to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur fans.

Not only was the striker’s new contract confirmation that he could end up spending more time at the Italian giants, but his own remarks made it clear that he would not be pushing through a deal anytime soon.

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“I'm very happy to stay here for a long time and I send you big hugs,” said Lautaro in a social media post after the news was confirmed. “Come on Inter, see you at the stadium."

However, despite the euphoria in Milan over Lautaro’s new deal, there’s still plenty of hope for either Premier League giant to sign the player sooner rather than later.

Inter are under no illusions about selling him

While Lautaro’s new contract may suggest that he has committed his future to the club, the club itself may have very little intention of keeping the striker for too long.

For example, Inter sold Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi for a combined €160 million this summer and the club’s CEO, Beppe Marotta, has always admitted that the club will always sell star players at the right price.

“The player’s desire is always crucial, as a manager I’m not worried about selling,” Marotta said in a recent interview.

“But about buying. Right now, there isn’t any club in Italy that can offer a huge salary to a player.”

He can still make more money in England

Indeed, it’s that second point that is perhaps most significant for Arsenal or Tottenham if they are to make a move for Lautaro in the future.

Even though the young striker may have moved to the top of Inter’s salary list with this new contract, he’s unlikely to be making the kind of money that would fight off interest from the Premier League.

Indeed, even if Lautaro had doubled his wages at hte Serie A club, he’ll still be making far less than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Harry Kane - the strikers he may be tasked with replacing one day.