Bukayo Saka is reluctant to sign a new contract with Arsenal without a release clause being included, according to reports.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed another outstanding season at the Emirates with the Gunners eager to tie him down to a new long-term contract.
Saka has a year remaining on his current contract with the option to extend that by a further 12 months. Formal talks are expected to take place with his representatives at the end of the campaign and while he is happy at the club, he is eager to test himself in the Champions League.
The Mail claim that when Saka enters discussions over a new deal he will be ‘reluctant to commit himself without an exit strategy.’
While release clauses are extremely rare in England, Arsenal could find themselves under pressure to include one and could be forced to make an exception on this occasion.
Arsenal were closing in on a return to the Champions League but successive defeats to Tottenham and Newcastle United have left Spurs in control heading into the last day of the season.
Arsenal need their arch-rivals to lose to Norwich City on the final day of the campaign on Sunday while they will have to pick up all three points against Everton.
Saka has made 42 appearances in all competitions this season having barely had a break last summer after England’s run to the final of Euro 2020.
With Arsenal facing a busy schedule next campaign with their return to European football, Arteta is eager for him to have a prolonged break over the summer and plans to speak to Gareth Southgate over his international involvement.
‘He needs a break, that is for sure,” Arteta said. ‘He has played a lot of minutes this season and he played a lot of minutes last season. ‘You expect your important players to do so, to have that ability and show the quality that Bukayo has shown consistently throughout the season.
‘But obviously you have to bear in mind that at some stage he needs to rest. That is something we really need to think about, the plans for him in the summer.’
