Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes signed a new long-term contract earlier this week but Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta does not intend to stop there
Andrea Berta will now seek to iron out new long-term contracts for four key Arsenal stars after defender Gabriel Magalhaes committed his future to the club until 2029. While the Gunners are working to finalise the arrivals of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, behind the scenes, Italian chief Berta has also made notable progress on a number of key contract extensions.
Sources have told Mirror Football that since arriving at the club in March, Berta has been working extremely hard on a number of key agreements as Arsenal want to keep their house in order and retain the services of their most-prized assets.
Both Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, who have two years left to run on their current deals, have held positive dialogue with Arsenal over fresh terms and want to stay at the club.
Saliba has been courted by Real Madrid but Mikel Arteta’s indispensable duo have already spoken publicly about their desire to remain in north London in a major boost for the Spaniard. Arsenal are relaxed about the process and while there’s an understanding that while negotiations can take time, they maintain confidence that agreements will be struck in due course.
Academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are also in line for new deals which would also include lucrative pay-rises. Their current contracts are due to expire in the summer of 2026 but there is optimism agreements for both players are now in sight following two stellar breakthrough seasons at the Emirates.
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Conversations with Lewis-Skelly began prior to Berta’s arrival while one of the Italian’s first acts as Arsenal sporting director was to approach the representatives of Nwaneri to propose formal contract discussions, which are advancing.
Negotiations also remain ongoing with both Thomas Partey, who is currently set to become a free agent at the end of the month, and winger Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal made Partey what they considered to be a competitive offer around 10 days ago but at this moment in time, there is still no agreement between the parties and the situation remains open. The Ghanaian midfielder, who turns 32 next Friday and has also attracted interest from Barcelona, wants to stay with the Gunners and is understood to be settled in north London.
However, Partey is said to be cautious that his next contract could potentially represent his last big deal and his agents want to see his importance to the team reflected within the terms proposed.
All parties want to find a quick resolution as Partey and his agent Jose Daniel Jimenez Pozanco, who has been handling talks with Arsenal, are currently scheduled to be in Ghana from June 10 to June 13 for the second edition of the ‘Thomas Partey tournament’ where scouts from Europe will cast an eye over young local talent.
Additionally, Partey is due to appear at the All Star Festival in Accra, Ghana on June 18. Meanwhile, Trossard remains in line to extend his stay with Arsenal having joined the club from Brighton in January 2023.
He was the subject of a verbal offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad last September and sources close to Trossard have confirmed there is still interest from the Middle East but to date, there have been no concrete offers this summer and the 30-year-old Belgian’s priority is to continue with the Gunners.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
