Arsenal attacker Gabriel Martinelli is ‘not even close’ to signing a new contract to stay at the Emirates after issuing his demands to the club.
The Brazilian has been one of the Gunners’ best performers so far this campaign and he was named Man of the Match in Sunday’s 3-2 win against Liverpool, after scoring in the first minute.
Martinelli joined the club in a £7m deal in 2019 but he’s now a first team regular and has attracted interest from around the Premier League, most notably from fellow London side Chelsea.
The winger’s current deal doesn’t expire until 2024 and the Gunners have the option of extending that by a further 12 months.
But, there is an acceptance from the club’s board that Martinelli has outgrown his current deal and he deserves an increase in order to reward his displays and to thwart interest from elsewhere.
But Martinelli has shocked Arsenal’s board by demanding parity with the club’s top earners Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey on £200,000-per-week, according to the Daily Mail.
Arsenal had expected to double the Brazilian star’s salary but his demands mean the club would almost be tripling his deal.
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The club have worked hard to get their wage bill down in recent years by offloading players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil.
While they are desperate to keep Martinelli, the North Londoners hope to come to an agreement on a lower salary.
Martinelli, for his part, is keen to stay at the club and told reporters after the 3-2 win against Liverpool that he’s in negotiations with the board.
‘Of course, I want to stay,’ said Martinelli. ‘We are talking. Let’s see what is going to happen. But I want to stay, of course,’ Martinelli said.
‘I think it’s my best season here at Arsenal. I’m so happy for this moment.’
