Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has urged his former side to agree new contracts for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to deter interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.
The Gunners duo are both in the final two years of their current deals at the Emirates Stadium which has rival clubs closely monitoring both players' situations. football.london understands Arsenal have an option to extend Martinelli's contract by a further two years which would see him stay at the Emirates Stadium until 2026, though his performances of late warrant an improved deal.
The Brazilian winger dropped a major hint regarding his future and admitted he would stay with Arsenal 'all his life' despite serious interest from Jurgen Klopp's team and the Blues. Saka has also hinted that his future could lie at the Emirates Stadium and is confident that a new deal can be agreed.
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The Hale End graduate featured 38 times for Arteta's side in the Premier League last season, directly contributing towards 18 goals, showing his potential at such a young age with his best years still ahead of him. Arsenal's main priority is to agree a contract renewal with the 21-year-old as soon as possible and their current form puts them in a strong position to convince him to sign a bumper new deal.
The Gunners are said to have 'formerly offered' Saka a new £200,000 a week contract which would see him become one of the highest earners at the club. Parlour has urged his former club to tie both players down to new deals urgently to avoid a repeat of the Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri sagas.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the Gunners legend said: “We’ve seen it happen so many times at Arsenal where people have gone on free transfers. Back in the day [Robin] van Persie – free transfer more or less. We had to sell him with a year left [on his contract].
“[Samir] Nasri was in the same situation. So now you’ve got to highlight who you want to keep, who’s your players going forward.”
Van Persie went on to win the Premier League after leaving Arsenal and joining fierce rivals Manchester United, whilst Nasri went on to join Manchester City. Parlour added: “I’m sure there’ll be so much interest for Saka.
"All the big boys will come in and try to sign him. So now sit down with him, get him on a good contract. Martinelli’s in the same boat – they’ve got to try to nail him down as well.
“[Emile] Smith Rowe has just signed a new contract, I know he’s injured at the moment but you’ve got to try and get these youngsters to sign up and believe that in two or three years time, this club is going somewhere.”
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