Man City and Liverpool want Saka amid Arsenal contract talks

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 25 Feb 2023 12:31 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester City and Liverpool are both weighing up a summer bid for wonderkid Bukayo Saka despite the player verbally agreeing a new Arsenal contract, according to reports.

The young Englishman has been hot property for a while after an excellent start to life in the Gunners senior team, but his form this season has caught the eye of both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

Saka, 21, has 17 goals and assists in 23 Premier League appearances this campaign, and has helped Arsenal climb to top spot in the English top flight.

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As a result, the Gunners are prepared to offer him a bumper new contract worth more than £200,000 per week - a huge increase on his current £70,000 weekly wage.

The Times have reported that Saka is set to sign this new deal next month, with the England international informing his boyhood club that he would like to extend his stay. He has reportedly verbally agreed to a new contract that will expire in June 2028. Saka's current deal runs until 2024 after signing his last extension back in 2020.

His decision comes amid interest from Man City and Liverpool, who are both monitoring his situation and are interested in making a bid this summer, according to the Times.

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Saka to stay at Arsenal?

Despite links with two of the Premier League's biggest clubs, Saka looks stay to reject any interest in him and stay faithful to his boyhood club.

He is reportedly very close with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and attributes much of his rise to the Spaniard's coaching.

Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League last season, narrowly missing out on Champions League football, but Arteta has inspired a turnaround this year, with the Gunners now perched at the top of the tree ahead of both Man City and Liverpool.

Saka could become the third Arsenal player to renew their contract this season, after Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli.