Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is still yet to sign a contract extension to remain at the Emirates Stadium.
Earlier this summer, Saka admitted he is 'confident' of signing a new deal with the Gunners but there has been little progress, with his current deal set to expire in 2024. Manchester City and Liverpool are both understood to be monitoring the England international's situation. However, Mikel Arteta shares Saka's confidence that a new deal can be agreed.
Real Madrid are one of the many clubs thought to be interested in signing Saka should his contract situation drag on further. The 21-year-old broke into the Gunners' senior team and is now regarded as the star player to help return the glory days back to the Emirates Stadium.
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There is yet to be any reports of progress made between the club and Saka's camp, which could see rival clubs at the top level of European football come in with some big offers for the Arsenal star in the coming transfer windows.
Saka is currently valued at up to €100 million (£87.5 million) according to CIES Football Observatory but the Gunners would likely demand well in excess of £100million for one of their star players and Hale End graduates.
The England international is in the top five for appearances made for Arsenal before turning 20 and has been used more than any other player by Mikel Arteta since he took charge of the team in 2019. Saka's importance to the Gunners cannot be understated, but if the 21-year-old has dreams of winning football's top trophies and being considered one of the best in the world, he may eventually need to move to the likes of Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Gareth Bale and Eduardo Camavinga's agent Jonathan Barnett has outlined why players must make the move to Madrid if they dream of being the best in the world. Speaking to GOAL Espana, Barnett said: "If you want to be the best player in the world, the best thing you can do is play for Real Madrid."
This could be taken as a clear message to the likes of Saka and other talents linked with a move to Santiago Bernabeu. Paris Saint-Germain ace Kylian Mbappe opted against a move to Madrid earlier this year and instead signed a new deal with the French outfit, though it remains to be seen whether he made the right decision for his career in doing so.
Saka could still face a similar situation to Mbappe in the coming years in being forced into deciding if he pursues his own personal dreams or looks to help his boyhood club return to their former success.
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