Are Arsenal at risk of losing Bukayo Saka soon?

Are Arsenal at risk of losing Bukayo Saka soon?

By Jonny Bray
Signing better players isn't the only reason why it's crucial Arsenal qualify for the Champions League this year.
After two years of carrying this squad, Bukayo Saka is beginning to attract attention from some of England's wealthiest clubs.
Manchester City, Liverpool and even Manchester United have been linked with the 20-year-old winger.
And you have to think that without Champions League football, the young Gunner will be forced to depart the club to further his career.
So are Arsenal at risk of losing Saka sooner rather than later? And if they do, is he replaceable?
With the season beginning to draw to a close, keeping Saka could be critical to Mikel Arteta's hopes of rebuilding Arsenal into the force they once were over the coming years.

Champions League football

Everyone knows how vital Champions League football is to the top players these days.
It's tempted better players than Saka away from their hometown clubs before.
But having made his debut for the club just four years ago, and being a first-team starter for just two, you'd have to think he isn't in that much of a rush to leave north London.
But Liverpool, City and Chelsea are all but guaranteed Champions League football next season, and for many seasons to come.
To make matters worse for Arteta and his team, all three of those sides are managed by one of the world's best.
So, while there's no guarantee that Saka will leave for regular Champions League football this summer, it'll definitely be something Gunners fans will become increasingly concerned about over the next three years.

Money

Considering he's been carrying a top-four side for two seasons, Saka is on a relatively modest wage.
He's one of Arsenal's lowest-paid star players on a reported £35,000 a week - the poor bloke.
Seriously though, if I were Saka, I'd be asking who really contributes to this squad and who is really the future of the club.
As things stand, he's already making a more significant contribution than better-paid players like Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Bernd Leno.
Although Saka doesn't strike me as the type of person who is all about the money, he is well within his right to ask why he isn't being paid what he's worth, especially since several experienced professionals continue to steal a living at the club.

Could Arsenal replace him?

Arsenal could replace his goal and assist contributions. If he was sold to City, it would probably be wise to go for a player-swap deal, with a Raheem Sterling or Riyad Mahrez coming the other way.
I have no doubt the Gunners could make the same demand for Mane at Liverpool if they were that keen to sign Saka.
And if the club took the cash, the fee would be astronomical, so it's not like all is lost for Arsenal if Saka does leave.
There would just be a lot of pressure to reinvest the money from the sale wisely.
What can't be replaced is his potential and what he is likely to bring to the club over the next decade.

Conclusion

In short, yes, Arsenal are at risk of losing Saka in the short term.
This was always going to happen eventually, and it really wouldn't surprise me to see him in the sky blue of City within two years.
It is crucial that Arsenal maximise the fee they get for him and then reinvest it wisely.
Alternatively, the Gunners could blow the youngster away with a significant investment in the squad that inspires him to stay at the club.
Either way, we can't afford to lose Saka and then make a mess of the aftermath.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

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