Arsenal are yet to revive contract talks with Bukayo Saka as the youngster approaches the final 12 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium.
The imminent agreement of a pay cut for the first team squad may allow Arsenal to plan negotiations with those players whose deals are expiring imminently but football.london understands that no talks have taken place between Saka’s representatives and the club hierarchy since February.
Arsenal have not been able to tie Saka to fresh terms since he signed his first professional contract, understood to be worth around £7,000-a-week, in September 2018. In the intervening period the 18-year-old has established himself as one of the outstanding young prospects in English football and a regular starter in Mikel Arteta’s side.
Saka has made 29 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners this season and is their leading assist provider with 10 in addition to three goals. A natural winger, the teenager has won plaudits for his adaptation to a left back role forced upon him after injuries to Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney.
Arsenal are desperate to keep him and would be prepared to offer Saka a significant pay rise. However rival clubs are closely monitoring negotiations, including Borussia Dortmund, whose scouting department are understood to have been tracking the England youth international since his time with the Gunners’ Under-18 side.
Saka has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and is said to be of interest to Liverpool and Manchester United too.
football.london reported in February that Arsenal are optimistic about retaining Saka, who joined the club’s academy at just eight years of age.
Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta offered a confident assessment of the situation last month, saying: "The club is doing what it has to do and is having conversations.
"We'll get it resolved."
