Bukayo Saka is expected to leave Arsenal in the near future, with one former Manchester United player revealing why he believes the two-time reigning England player of the year will join Manchester City.
The Ealing-born 22-year-old is considered as one of the Premier League’s top performers and has blossomed at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta’s tutelage. Saka, who is now a regular for his country, has 30 caps for England, scoring 11 goals and been named Three Lions player of the year for the past two seasons.
An injury prevented him from adding to his total over the recent international break, and Arsenal will hope the rest will have given him enough time to heal ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Saka, who injured his hamstring in the Champions League defeat to Lens earlier this month, has “been working so hard” to be fit for the trip to face Mauricio Pochettino’s men, according to Arteta.
Arsenal’s prospects of victory will rise dramatically if Saka returns, though Arteta will be wary about hurrying him back and jeopardising his rehabilitation.
In any case, Saka’s position as perhaps Arsenal’s best player is solid, with the winger scoring 43 goals and providing 39 assists in 189 games.
With a goal contribution every 2.3 matches, much of their title hopes will rest on Saka’s shoulders. They finished a narrow second to Manchester City last season and hopes burn bright that this season could see the club end that 20-year wait for Premier League glory.
Saka tipped to join Man City by 2026
However, former Man Utd winger Kieran Richardson reckons Saka will look to move of if he’s not achieved that goal within the next three seasons.
His recently-signed deal at Arsenal is due to expire in summer 2027 – and Richardson, speaking to Ladbrokes, believes a move is likely by 2026 if he has not managed to lift the Premier League by that date.
And he reckons Manchester City are best placed to sign the star, who is currently rated in the £120m bracket.
“I do feel like if he does leave the club, he’ll go to City,” Richardson said. “It seems like a perfect fit for him. Even though I don’t want him to go, when you think about it, they’ve obviously lost a couple of players in the summer, Riyad Mahrez being one. It seems a perfect fit for Saka, if he wants it.
“Look, I’m hoping that he never has to go there, and that Arsenal win the Premier League and so he’s got no need or reason to go there. But, a player like that, he has to be winning things. You see the likes of Harry Kane at Spurs, he left because he wanted to actually win something, even if it’s in Germany.
Saka settled at Arsenal -but new deal might contain exit clause
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“I just feel like if we don’t win the trophy in the next three years, then Saka is definitely going to be looking to move. Why shouldn’t he be? He’s the kind of player that needs to be finishing his career with at least three or four Premier League titles to his name.”