ARSENAL hero Paul Merson reckons star duo Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe should be sold in the summer if they refuse to sign new deals.
Merson has urged Arsenal to tie the pair down to long-term contracts as soon as possible.
Merson fears Smith Rowe and Saka will have to be sold in the summer if they don’t pen new contracts in the near futureCredit: Getty
Saka’s current deal expires in the summer of 2024, and the 20-year-old is reportedly a target for Liverpool and Manchester City.
Smith Rowe on the other hand is contracted up until 2026, but that’s still not enough for Merson’s liking.
And rather than let the pair run down their contracts, Merson has made the bold claim that they should be sold in the summer if they aren’t penned down long-term.
He wrote in the Daily Star: “They are top drawer and they are going to be vital to Arsenal finishing in the top four this season. But I think Arsenal should get them tied down now.
“They should be talking now about five year contracts. Get them signed, and if they don’t want to sign, then sell them in the summer.
“Don’t hang around and let them run their contracts down and let them go for next to nothing. Test the water because there will be teams chasing them.”
The likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are set to leave in the summer when their contracts expire, and Merson doesn’t want Saka and Smith Rowe to have the same fate.
Both netted brilliant goals in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Brentford.
The duo have also been called up for England duty, with Merson labelling them the ‘future’ of Arsenal.
And he reckons the priority for the club should be offering them a blank chequebook for five-year extensions.
He continued: “If you get those two on five-year contracts, what a buzz that is if you’re an Arsenal fan. You’re thinking Arsenal are going places and the club’s future is secure.
“Saka and Smith Rowe both scored against Brentford. Straight after the game I’m calling their agents and saying: ‘How much do you want?’
“You should be giving these kids a pay rise. A big one. They’re the future of Arsenal and you need to tie them down ASAP.
“Get them tied down now. Don’t keep them waiting. That’s all it is with Arsenal sometimes – wait, wait, wait. I’m worried they will leave.”
⚽ Get all the latest Arsenal news, updates and transfer gossip with our live blog
