Arsenal could lose starlet Bukayo Saka if they fail to secure European football for next season, according to reports.
The 18-year-old is yet to sign a new contract with the club, with his current deal due to expire in just 18 months.
Saka is still on the £3000-a-week agreement he made with the club when signing his first professional contract in September 2018.
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The Times are reporting that negotiations for a new deal are stuttering with Mikel Arteta’s side facing the prospect of a year out of European competition.
Promising winger Saka wants to carry on his rapid rate of development by continuing to play against Europe’s biggest clubs.
Arsenal sit in 10th place in the Premier League table with 13 league games to go, four points away from Manchester United who occupy the final Europa League spot.
The north London club are even farther away from Champions League qualification, seven points adrift from fourth-placed side Chelsea.
However, due to Manchester City’s two-year European ban, the team that finishes fifth may gain a route into Europe’s elite competition. Saka is reportedly attracting interest from rivals Manchester United and Liverpool due to his impressive form for the Gunners this season.
The England Under-19’s international has more assists than any other Premier League teenager, despite playing out of position at left-back
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COMMENTS
Unconfirmed reports reaching me this morning indicates that the NFF are moving to invite Saka for Nigeria’s upcoming games.
I can’t stress enough that this news should be taken with a pinch of salt as I cannot independently verify its authenticity.
However, the report reads:
NFF Extends “Special Invitation ” To Arsenal Rising Star Saka For Sierra Leone Tie
The Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) has concluded plans to invite Arsenal rave of the moment Bukayo Saka to Nigeria ahead of the Super Eagles AFCON 2021 Qualifiers game against Sierra Leone, a chieftain of the NFF has exclusively reveal.
Saka isn’t eligible to play for Nigeria yet as he has represented England at various youth levels and will require clearance from England to play for Nigeria. The NFF however want him to be with the team as part of their plans to make him ditch England for Nigeria.
The 18 year old has emerged as one of the shining lights of the season for Arsenal with nine assists to his name despite playing in an unfamiliar left full back position the past three months. His performance has not gone unnoticed.
England are yet to hand him a call up to their senior team and the left footed ace who shares same agent as Alex Iwobi has been contacted to team up with the Super Eagles in unofficial capacity for the Sierra Leone game.
His parents have been approached by the NFF but the player is yet to decide on his international future with mind on establishing himself as a regular in the Arsenal team and also secure his future with his contract set to run out soon.
” Yes we have spoken with him and even extended an invitation to him ahead of the Sierra Leone game. The idea is to have him with the team even though he isn’t eligible to play yet. It’s part of the process of making him see reasons that his future lies with the Super Eagles and not with England “, a chieftain of the NFF revealed.
In my view, Saka has all the makings to be a top quality footballer and I wish him all the best in his choice of country to represent.
At 18 years old, rather than to be bothered about which country to represent, I think Saka should focus more on developing every aspect of his game.
With focus, hard work, dedication and concentration, Saka is expected to do well – whichever country he ends up playing.
The chances of Saka turning out for the super eagles is very slim,in fact i shall be amazed if that happens.
Every passing day his profile snowballs and making the much needed headway to stardom.The English football authorities are not oblivious of his steady rise and invitations to one of it’s national teams is ripe and i do not see the lad not honouring it because obviously that is his priority.
I shall be gutted if that happens likewise every super eagles fans because the lad is a super talent who may be of little importance to England,who could cap-tie and dump him later but of a significant importance to Nigeria who can do with such a prodigious talent.