Arsenal must prioritise Bukayo Saka new contract after display vs Brighton, says Peter Crouch

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Joe Krishnan21 June 2020

Arsenal should do their utmost to tie down Bukayo Saka to a new contract and review their strategy for handling new deals in the future, according to Peter Crouch.

The 18-year-old's breakthrough to the first-team has been one of the few positive aspects of the north London outfit's season so far after graduating from the academy.

Saka has emerged as one of the first names on the teamsheet under Mikel Arteta, deputising at left-back and also playing in a more attacking central position against Brighton on Saturday.

But the Gunners could lose the starlet with his contract set to expire in 2021 and a number of Premier League teams reportedly interested in signing the England Under-21 international.

Players such as Alexis Sanchez and Robin van Persie have left the Emirates Stadium in cut-price deals in recent years after running down their contracts.

Saka is yet to sign a new contract with his current deal expiring in 2021  Photo: Reuters
REUTERS

And Crouch, speaking as a pundit for BT Sport, says the club must solve the problem or risk losing youngsters like Saka.

"I would be concerned [about his contract]," he said.

"It’s happened time and time again at Arsenal – I don’t know who is in charge of contracts at Arsenal but he needs to be sorted.

"They are giving big, big contracts to players who don’t want to be there and haven’t sorted someone out with immense potential like Saka, possibly Arsenal’s best player in first half."

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