Pundit tips Saka to replace Salah in ‘typical’ Arsenal blunder

Bukayo Saka has the “attributes and qualities” to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, according to Kevin Phillips.

The Arsenal academy graduate has been linked with a move to the Reds and Manchester City, who are said to be in the running to lure him from the Emirates should the Gunners fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.

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Saka has scored seven goals this season for Arsenal, leaving him just two behind the club’s top scorer Emile Smith Rowe, and has been arguably the standout player under Mikel Arteta.

Meanwhile Salah is yet to sign a new deal with Liverpool and now has just 18 months left to run on his current deal.

Former Premier League striker Phillips believes Saka has what it takes to “emulate” Salah.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “I think Saka will get better and better. He’s still a young kid, he’s done a lot already in his short career.

“I think he’s an unbelievable talent and I think, moulded in the right way, he’ll turn out to be a top-class player.

“Whether he can go to Liverpool, if that was to happen, could he emulate what Salah’s done? It’d be very, very difficult for any player to do that.

“But he’s certainly got the attributes and qualities that he possibly could join Liverpool and replace Salah. Let’s not forget, Salah didn’t tear it up early on at Chelsea.

“For Saka, he’s developing all the time”.

But Phillips insists that Arsenal should be doing whatever it takes to keep the 20-year-old at the club, although it would be “typical” of Arsenal to let his contract run down.

“That would just be typical Arsenal, wouldn’t it?” Phillips added.

“He’s got 18 months left and they’ll probably let it drag all the way through.

“I’d get him signed up now if I was Arteta. I’d be onto the board telling them to get him tied down to a four, five-year deal.

“He’s one of their best players, if not the best player. It’s as simple as that.”

 

The post Pundit tips Saka to replace Salah in ‘typical’ Arsenal blunder appeared first on Football365.

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