Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that he is “very confident” Bukayo Saka will sign a new deal with the Gunners.

Both Manchester City and Liverpool have been mentioned as potential suitors for the 20-year-old but, when questioned about the England international’s contract situation in his pre-match press conference, Arteta replied:

“I am very confident that we as a club and Bukayo, his family, his agent, everybody, we are very much aligned in what we want to achieve. And now it is about putting it on a piece of paper.”

Asked whether it is possible that Saka would agree an extension before heading out for the World Cup in November, Arteta was more circumspect with his response:

“I would like that to get done, because I don’t want the player or anybody distracted while we are in the middle of the season. But those things take time and they have to go through the right process, and I think the process has been really good.”

It does appear as if negotiations are taking longer than expected. Talks are believed to have begun at the end of last season, but it seems there is still a fair way to go before Saka puts pen to paper on an extension.

The winger’s current contract has less than two years left to run, and Manchester City will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on how talks progress over the coming weeks and months.