Speculation may be growing that Arsenal are on the verge of announcing new contracts for Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale but manager Mikel Arteta isn’t interested in anything that distracts from his side’s final three games of the season.
The England duo are set to be rewarded for this season’s fine form with big pay rises and the club is similarly trying to tie down William Saliba to terms that reflect his improved status in the squad.
While talks between the various parties continue to take place behind the scenes, in public, the boss is determined to focus minds on Sunday’s clash with Brighton.
“The moment there is something to announce with any individual we’ll do that as a club, like we always do,” said Arteta on Friday. “It’s not the moment to talk about that.”
He added: “Where we are with each individual is probably different in terms of timing, but the clarity is there, they know, we have communicated to each of them what the intentions are and we are trying to get that done as quick as possible but respecting and without losing any focus on what is the real deal right now.”
Aaron Ramsdale's new contract will not be signed this week but it's almost done and verbally agreed. It will take some days to check final details, prepare all the documents and make it official. ⚪️🔴 #AFC
New deal will be valid until June 2028. pic.twitter.com/lEDERBCGb5
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 12, 2023
Pressed on whether Ramsdale’s performances mean he’s rightfully in line for a new deal, he added: “We are really happy with him, the way he’s developed, the way he’s performed and the trajectory he’s had in the last two seasons is remarkable. We are really happy with him and he’s a really important player for us.”
This week has also seen Granit Xhaka linked with a return to the Bundesliga. It’s reported that Arteta’s childhood friend Xabi Alonso wants to recruit the Switzerland international for Bayer Leverkusen.
“As you can understand, I’m not going to be replying to certain stories or not,” said Arteta.
“I’m extremely happy with Granit, he’s having an incredible season, probably the best season he’s had at the club. We are really happy to have him.”
The boss was also pressed on suggestions that Arsenal could break their transfer record this summer with interest in Declan Rice an open secret and the price on his head rising above £100 million.
“The conversation now has to be Brighton and the games that we have,” he responded.
“We are playing to win the title, we want to be fully focused on that and all those things are distractions and we don’t want to be nowhere near that.”
Pardon me for being little off topic
But who else thinks that Declan Rice is much overrated & overvalued and we should look for someone else.
I’d love to sign him but 120m is a pisstake
Hopefully that’s just a negotiating tactic
They (West Ham)want to start a bidding war a la Mudryk. Boehly can have Rice.
Can’t imagine Rice will go to Chelsea. Shitshow at the moment.
No. The way he can cover ground quickly to make tackles and recover loose balls, to bring the ball forward, and height to win headers, is the closest I seen to what Patrick Viera could do. If he was released from the holding position at bit more, he has the ability to score goals too.
🖐️
I think he’s a very good player who would improve our starting XI. But a large part of his valuation seems based on this perception that he’s some kind of lionhearted leader who would magically turn us into a more resilient and unflappable side That’s how Man U were scammed with Maguire’s transfer, buying into the hype that he would be this great iconic club captain. Which was nothing but a result of all the fluff blown his way in the English media on the basis of him being tall, white, English and having a massive head – and the… Read more »
It’s said Nwaneri is going to join Man City. If so fuck him.
So far, just a bunch of shit sources. As it stands, he’s one of us. So… love that kid!
You can’t get too excited about players at that age. Look at what happened to the one that went to Chelsea.
Maybe he fancies his chances of first team football with a team in the Championship?
Good forward planning by his agent with the charges against City being lined up.
Arteta doesn’t know anything.😄