Arsenal “park new deals” until 2027
So much of Arsenal’s business right now is dependent on the contract situation of existing players.
I am confident that had Gabriel Martinelli not had 1-year left on his contract, he would still be an Arsenal player. The issue for the club was he was a squad player on 1st XI wages, deservedly earned following his 2021/22 season, and would unlikely have been willing to negotiate a lower deal to remain at the club. The result was he was sold.
In a years time, Arsenal will be in a similar situation with both Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz.
Over the next 12 months, Arsenal will either need to offer the pair new, extended contracts, or come to the conclusion that they will be sold in 2027. And there are plenty of questions for Andrea Berta et al to ask.
With Odegaard, the issue will be he turns 29 in December 2027. A bumper new 5-year deal will take him through until he is 33. Our captain already earns £240k a week. Even if he signs to the same deal, that will be in excess of £60m committed to him over the next 5 years.
Odegaard has been a fantastic player for Arsenal. He is a brilliant leader and contributes on and off the pitch beyond just goals. But there is always an niggle that “we could do better”. There is also a feeling that with the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Bruno Guimaraes in the squad, we will transition from a 6 and 2 8s, to two 6s and a 10. And Odegaard is perhaps not as suited to playing solely as a playmaker as he is operating a bit deeper.
In the last two seasons, he seems to have digressed a little and you feel a he needs a huge season in 2026/27. If he fails to return to his form of a couple of years ago, I feel next summer could be when we look to do the upgrade.
For a long time, Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz has been on my list as potential left wing options, but I think his future could actually be more centrally.
The German-born Turkish midfielder certainly has all the attributes to become the next big number 10 in world football. Two footed, can pass, dribble, find space in tight situations and his shooting is improving.
He may not be an obvious upgrade on Odegaard from Day One, but he certainly as a higher ceiling and, combined with the experienced Eberechi Eze, I could see the pair tandeming quite well.
I can certainly see us cashing in on Odegaard next summer, and signing Yildiz to replace him. And not only that, I can actually see Odegaard going to Juventus!
Yildiz would likely cost more in transfer fee than we would get for Odegaard, but this would be offset by the lower salary – Yildiz is currently on around £100k a week. You would expect Yildiz him come in on around the £150-180k a week mark.
So by doing the switch, our finances in terms of outlay would stay fairly neutral, and we would be recruiting a much younger player with a higher ceiling. The other option would be to give Odegaard a new 5-year deal.
Kai Havertz contract also expires in 2028. He is currently our 2nd highest paid player.
Throughout this season I expect a lot of toing and throwing between Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres. The German will be more suited to some games, with the Portuguese more suited to others. What that means is Havertz is on a huge salary for someone who is not a guaranteed starter.
The sort of money Harvertz is on should be reserved for the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba. Players who are guaranteed to start week in, week out, and players who are amongst the best in the world in their position. Havertz is neither of these.
Arsenal have the same decision to make with Havertz over the next 12-months as they do with Odegaard – renew or sell.
Would we be comfortable offering Havertz a new 5-year deal on his current salary? I think 99% of you reading this will say no. So the likelihood is Havertz will be sold – unless this season he suddenly becomes a 30-goal a season man.
I am a huge fan of both Pio Esposito and Nicolò Tresoldi.
The pair are the right profile for a Mikel Arteta striker – tall, strong, mobile. But as it stands neither is proven, and Arsenal do not have the space in the squad for them.
Our interest in the pair has likely been parked until 2027. I would not be surprised if we have people watching them almost every game next season, and then we “pick one” to replace Havertz. And either would be an exciting talent who could quite quickly become our long term striker.
The next 12-months will certainly be interesting for Arsenal.
Alongside Odegaard and Havertz, Declan Rice, David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino and Ben White all have contracts expiring in 2028. Arsenal are now a very different side from when these guys were signed. We are now Champions rather than contenders. And with that comes bigger budgets and being more attractive to new players.
Berta, Arteta, et al will need to decide who is still part of the Arsenal journey and deserves a new contract, and whose time on the island has come to an end.
Like with Martinelli, those players who are departing might not be surplus to requirements, and it might just be a case of we do not want to give them another 5-years, at their current wages. And this is another reason why this summer we may have decided to hold a little back.
Secure another title in Arteta’s WIN NOW phase and then next summer we might see a squad overhaul.
