Arsenal fans fear Bukayo Saka could still quit despite agreeing new long-term deal over ‘curse’ of highest paid player
ARSENAL fans fear that Bukayo Saka could still leave the club despite agreeing on a new long-term contract.
The deal will see the England international become the club’s highest-paid player, with a salary of up to £300,000 per week.
Saka has been in stunning form for the club this season as he has helped them to the top of the Premier League table.
The 21-year-old has scored 12 goals and assisted ten more in his 28 league appearances.
While he has certainly earned his new deal, it does not guarantee his form will continue.
Former club stars such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil all saw their effectiveness fade after signing new contracts.
One Arsenal supporter tweeted: “Saka contract curse is pending….”
While a second asked: “Will Saka beat the “improved contract” curse?”
However, some were more hopeful, as a third fan added: “Saka about to break our £300,000 big player contract curse.”
Ozil was a star player for Arsenal and he was awarded with a whooping contract worth £350,000 per week just six months before he was set to leave the club on a free transfer, according to The Mirror.
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However, the following season, under new manager Unai Emery, he only managed to contribute six goals and three assists.
The next season he scored one goal before being exiled from the team by manager Mikel Arteta and leaving on a free transfer to Fenerbache in January 2021.
Aubameyang received a pay rise after helping the club win the FA Cup in 2020.
But he also went on to fall out with Arteta at the start of the 2021/22 season.
The Gabon striker was dropped from the squad after a third disciplinary issue in a year. He then left the club in the winter transfer window on a free transfer to Barcelona.
Podolski might not have been been on a similar wage to the two recent stars but he was among the club’s highest-paid players in 2012.
Earing £157,000 per week, the German starred in his first season in North London.
However, in his second campaign, he lost his place in the team after some inconsistent performances.
He then left the club on loan to Inter Milan in January 2015 and then permanently to Galatasaray in the summer for a measly fee of less than £2million.