Agbonlahor: Arsenal set for £150m+ ‘punishment’ after source’s double reveal
Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka may all demand new Arsenal contracts worth “£200,000-a-week”, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker insisted the player’s agents will be ensuring that the trio, who are in the final two years of their current contracts, earn the same as the club’s top earners.
Sources told Football Insider last week (5 October) that Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Saka over a new five-year deal worth £200,000-a-week meaning it will cost the club £52million in total.
This site revealed earlier this week (9 October) that they are also in advanced negotiations with Martinelli over a new deal.
If all three players signed a £200,000-a-week five-year contract it would cost the club £152million in wages alone.
“It’s very difficult in football now,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“When players are in great form their agents are going to be in their head saying ‘So and so is earning this, so and so is earning that, you deserve that’.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if someone like Martinelli’s agent is saying ‘You are playing unbelievable, you’re in the Brazil squad and are going to go to the World Cup. Let’s wait until after the World Cup and you could be getting the same as Gabriel Jesus’.
“Gabriel Jesus may be on £200,000-a-week. Martinelli’s agent may be saying ‘You deserve that and if they don’t want to give it to you, there are other clubs that will’.
“Sometimes when players start picking up their form and doing well it becomes a headache for the club with contracts.
“Saka, Saliba and Martinelli will want to be up there with the top earners at the club and deservedly so.
“Good form and good play comes with a punishment for football clubs sometimes. It’s going to cost them wages.”
In other news, a finance guru has issued a “£200m” Arsenal reveal amid a “significant” signings claim.