Former Liverpool player Steve McManaman has urged his former team to sign Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka if he becomes available on a free transfer. According to McManaman, he has been impressed with the performance of the 18-year-old this season.
The Arsenal youngster has attracted the interest of Jurgen Klopp’s side, Manchester United and Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich due to his superb display this season. FutballNews reports that the three clubs are interested in pricing him away from the Emirates amid contract talks between the club and player.
The 18-year-old earns £3,000-per-week and has entered the last 18 months of his current Arsenal deal which will expire in the summer of 2021. Arsenal are set to discuss a new deal with Saka with will see the starlet gets a wage rise in a bid to wade off interest from other clubs.
Saka entered the first team last season under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery, making four times, scoring three goals and making five assists. He has appeared 23 times both in Europa and domestic cup campaigns under former interim manager Freddie Ljungberg and new manager Mikel Arteta.
The 18-year-old has shown that his versatile and can adapt to any position he is asked to play. He has played in his preferred left-wing role and also impressed as a left-back while covering for Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney, who are both out with injuries.
Saka became the youngest Arsenal player to play in Premier League history when he featured against Manchester United just 25 days after his 18th birthday last year September. He was named the man of the match in Arsenal’s 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle last weekend. The winger also provided an assist for Alexandre Lacazette to score and win Arsenal’s Europa League clash against Olympiakos on Thursday.
However, in his HorseRacing.net column, McManaman said it would be a “no brainer” if the Reds can seal a deal for Saka next summer after the youngster is said to be stalling on a new Arsenal deal. The pundit added that the Arsenal winger has the capacity to be one of the best players in the Premier League.
According to McManaman, Liverpool can sign him depending on numerous things such as economics and whether it’s a deal that the Reds thinks is worth doing. He added it will be insane for Saka to join Liverpool now when he is developing his game.
McManaman wrote: “He looks like a really good player, but he’s incredibly young.
“If there are contract issues and he ever becomes available on a free transfer then that’s a no brainer because you’re taking someone on a free contract who’s young and has a lot of potentials.
“If he continues his development at left-back, then he’s not as good as Andy Robertson at the moment.
“If he does join Liverpool then he’s got a long wait and Liverpool already have a couple of young left-backs waiting in the wings who we’ve seen in the FA Cup this year, who would probably be on a par with Bukayo Saka at this moment in time.
“It all depends on numerous things such as economics and whether it’s a deal that Liverpool thinks is worth doing. They may think that it’s a deal not necessarily in need, but they may do it anyway.”
