Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are planning contract talks with Bukayo Saka as they look to secure his long-term future.
Saka will have two years left on his deal in the summer and Arsenal want to tie down a player Arteta believes is part of the club’s DNA.
The 20-year-old (below), who has been with Arsenal since he was eight, has come through the club’s academy and is now a regular for England.
Arsenal want to reward Saka for his progress and importance to the team, with clubs all over Europe no doubt watching the situation in case an opportunity arises to secure one of the Premier League’s best young players.
Arteta said: “It is a conversation we are going to have with the player, then his agent, his family — [talks] which are going to be extremely important as well — so everybody is on board.
“Obviously, our desire is to keep Bukayo as long as possible, because we are really happy. He is part of our club, our DNA, he is growing, he is maturing.
“His importance in the team is unquestionable and we want to keep our best talent, that’s for sure.”
Arsenal will also look to bolster their squad this summer after a quiet January transfer window. The club allowed six players to leave last month, either permanently or on loan, and Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah and Mohamed Elneny could also depart in the summer when their contracts expire.
Arteta knows Arsenal, who are back in action tonight after their mid-season break when they play at Wolves, must bring in new players, but the Spaniard is also aware a balance must be struck so as not to dent the growth of young players such as Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Saka.
“Here there are two things,” said Arteta. “It’s trying to build a squad that you have room for those players to develop, and the other one is to have those players developing when we are extremely competitive.
“Because if you sign three top players, and then those kids start not playing, what happens? You cannot have it both ways. If you sign big players, with big money, the money has to be on the pitch — which means that these players are not going to be on the pitch.
“So we need to find the balance, but with the standards that this club requires, which is to be the best. This is what we are trying to do, but without killing what is growing.”
