Manchester City Ramp-up Interest in Bukayo Saka.
Manchester City has intensified their pursuit of Arsenal and England midfielder Bukayo Saka.
As Saka enters the last two years of his contract at the Emirates, Manchester City is keeping a careful eye on events about his future.
City, like their greatest local rivals Liverpool, has identified Saka, a 20-year-old winger, as a potential future target.
Despite the fact that a move this summer is doubtful, City has begun to show an increasing interest in Saka at a crucial time in Arsenal’s attempts to lock him down to a long-term deal.
Saka’s current contract includes an option year, which if exercised by Arsenal, will extend his stay at the Emirates until 2024.
One of Arsenal’s top aims this summer was to sign Saka to a new and better deal that reflected his increase in status for both club and country.
Initial talks took place at the end of the season, with the Gunners wanting to avoid extending Saka’s contract beyond his two-year limit.
Arsenal, on the other hand, was well aware of the significance of Champions League qualifying on their summer preparations, which included finalizing a new contract for Saka, who had yet to play in Europe’s premier club tournament.
And the fact that Arsenal was pipped to fourth by arch rivals Tottenham, it has only added to the difficulty of achieving that goal.
With his present contract status and their more immediate transfer priority, any move for Saka in the forthcoming transfer window, which begins on Friday, would likely be too pricey for any of his Premier League pursuers.
City has signed their main target, striker Erling Haaland. Currently, they are aiming to reinforce their team in central midfield, with any future acquisitions being affected by who could go.
Liverpool’s main priority entering into the summer was to bolster their center midfield.
However, Arsenal’s failure to qualify for the Champions League has boosted their expectations that Saka’s long-term Emirates future will stay unsettled beyond this window. This is a circumstance that will only lower his worth and play into the hands of his pursuers the longer that remains the case.