INCOMING Arsenal chief Richard Garlick will work on resolving the futures of Emile Smith Rowe and Alexandre Lacazette when he joins the club.
Garlick will take over as director of football operations on May 17 having been working for the Premier League in the same role.
And according to ESPN, two of his first jobs will be to sort out contract issues.
The first will be getting Smith Rowe to put pen to paper on a fresh deal.
His current one runs until 2023 but after a breakthrough season this term, the 20-year-old is due to earn a pay rise.
The ‘Croydon De Bruyne’ is on £20,000 per week at the moment but is expected to see that double.
Smith Rowe has racked up 29 first-team appearances this term with seven assists.
For Lacazette, Garlick must decide whether or not to offer a new deal.
The Frenchman, 29, is out of contract at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Arsenal are desperate not to lose more players on free transfers.
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Therefore the club will either give him an extension to remain at the Emirates or try and sell the £44million ex-Lyon striker.
This season’s top scorer currently earns a reported £182,000 per week – behind only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Thomas Partey and Willian.
Arsenal confirmed they would hold talks in the summer once the campaign is over.
But speaking in April, the No9 gave an update for fans and said: “My plan is to win a trophy with the club this season and it would be easy for me to pretend to have a contract extension.
“Everything is not only on my side, there is also the club, the manager. There are different things we have to think about.
“I don’t think it’s the right moment to talk about it.”
Garlick’s appointment was confirmed in January with the qualified sports law solicitor leaving his Premier League post after three years – before that he had eight seasons with West Brom.
At the time, a Gunners spokesperson said: “His responsibilities will include football operations in the first team and academy, all player contract management and relationships with football’s governing bodies.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
