Andrea Berta isn’t keen to extend Leandro Trossard’s contract at the player’s current wage demands, according to a report, perhaps explaining the delay in the forward’s new deal.
L’Equipe report that Leandro Trossard could be on the market this summer, as Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta doesn’t wish to extend his contract at the salary level the forward is asking for.
Contract talks had appeared to be going well, with Sami Mokbel reporting for the BBC in May that the player was in advanced talks over a new deal, with all parties confident of an agreement.
But over a month later, there’s still been no update on those negotiations, and it’s not impossible the situation has started to change.
Berta has indeed been leading the talks with Trossard, and the player reportedly told the new sporting director earlier this year that his priority is to stay.
Perhaps the delay is really down to nothing more than the international break and the summer holidays, with Mikel Arteta’s squad not due back in pre-season training until next week.
Yet if L’Equipe are right, Arsenal’s planned summer business could explain some hesitancy to bump up Trossard’s wages.
Arsenal have signed Kepa Arrizabalaga, they’re on the verge of announcing Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard is joining pending a medical, serious talks are ongoing for Cristhian Mosquera, and reports suggest the Gunners could want three attacking signings on top of those other four additions.
At some point, you’d expect that all the incoming signings would need to be balanced by some outgoings. And if three attacking players do join, perhaps the departure of a forward becomes the most likely outcome.
Whether that will be Trossard or someone else remains to be seen. For the time being, the English media still haven’t confirmed any issues in the Belgian international’s contract discussions.
