EPL: Sagna about to commit to Arsenal

Apr 23, 2014 12:41:00 PM
The Frenchman has held positive fresh
talks with the club over a contract
extension as confidence grows at
Emirates Stadium that he will reject
offers from rival clubs
EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | UK Correspondent
Bacary Sagna is close to reaching an
agreement with Arsenal over a new contract,
Goal understands.
Sagna’s representatives have held positive
fresh talks with the club and the Gunners
hierarchy believe they have made a
breakthrough in their attempt to extend the
player’s deal beyond this season.
The right-back is believed to be settled with
his family in London and is increasingly
likely to snub offers from Liverpool,
Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain,
Monaco and Inter Milan to remain at Arsenal.
Goal reported last month that the Londoners
had offered Sagna a two-year, €90,000-a-
week contract that includes an option for a
third year .
This falls short of Sagna’s €120,000-a-week
demands but further inducements have
subsequently been offered to keep one of
Arsenal’s longest-serving players.
Arsene Wenger has been heavily involved in
his fellow Frenchman’s contract talks
despite the uncertainty over his own future
beyond this season .
Sagna, who turned 31 in February, can leave
Emirates Stadium on a free in the summer
and is able to sign a pre-contract agreement
with a new club.
However, there is growing confidence among
the Arsenal hierarchy that 18 months of
negotiations will result in a successful
outcome for the club.
Wenger has always been keen to hold on to
Sagna, who has been a key figure for Arsenal
this season and offers experience and
versatility that would not be easy to replace.
The Gunners have looked closely at
replacement right-backs in the last year, with
Frankfurt's Sebastian Jung currently top of
their target list should Sagna decide to
leave.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers and City
manager Manuel Pellegrini are also admirers
of Sagna, who can operate in central defence
as well as both full-back positions, and he is
highly regarded in his native France.