Arsenal poised to sign Mikel Arteta to lucrative new contract
Arsenal are gearing up to hand Mikel Arteta a bumper new deal after the Spaniard delivered the club’s first league crown in over two decades, reports BritPanorama.
The 44-year-old could see his earnings soar to around £26m per year, putting him on par with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, widely considered the best-paid manager on the planet.
This contract represents a significant reward for a manager who has transformed the north London club since his arrival in December 2019. Discussions over extending his contract, which runs until next summer, were paused during Arsenal’s thrilling title race with Manchester City but are now set to resume.
Arteta’s current arrangement is understood to be worth roughly £10m annually, alongside an additional £5m bonus for securing Champions League qualification. Should the new terms go through, he’d earn more than Pep Guardiola, who reportedly takes home £20m a year at Manchester City.
This new contract would establish Arteta as the highest-paid manager in the Premier League, regardless of Guardiola’s reported potential departure. It’s quite the turnaround for a manager in his first senior role, who has now become the second-youngest boss to lift the Premier League trophy after José Mourinho’s Chelsea triumph back in 2004.
Contract discussions are expected to gain momentum following next Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. On the transfer front, Arsenal have their sights set on enhancing Arteta’s squad with exciting targets.
Bournemouth sensation Eli Junior Kroupi, whose goal against City helped seal the title, is a prominent target, though the Cherries may demand around £80m for the 19-year-old. The French teenager has broken the record for most goals by a teenager in a debut Premier League season with his 13th strike this campaign.
Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez is another player high on the wishlist, given his versatility and proven quality at the top level. Arsenal will not be spending as lavishly as last summer’s £250m spree but funds are still available for marquee additions.
Some players may need to depart to balance the books, with Gabriel Jesus looking surplus to requirements despite earning £250,000 weekly with just a year left on his deal. Gabriel Martinelli could also leave if the right offer comes in, given his uncertain starting position.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are in discussions over a potential move for Jeremy Monga, Leicester’s 16-year-old winger, who made history this season as the youngest goalscorer in Championship football.
With a promising squad and a solid managerial foundation, Arsenal’s next steps could define their trajectory in both domestic and European competitions.
