By Adegboyega Adeleye
Arsenal are close to finalising a new long-term contract for manager Mikel Arteta, with talks between the club and the Spaniard progressing positively.
According to the BBC, discussions have advanced in recent weeks, with all parties confident that Arteta will sign a new deal and remain in charge at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta, whose current contract has nine months remaining, is expected to become one of the highest-paid managers in world football under the improved terms.
His existing deal is worth £10m a season, with a further £5m available if Arsenal qualify for the Champions League, but the club are committed to significantly improving his package.
Arteta has already made clear that he wants to remain at Arsenal, saying last month that he was “very happy” at the club and that the timing of his new contract would not be an issue.
Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick has also described the agreement as a “matter of time”.
Since taking charge in December 2019, Arteta has transformed Arsenal into Premier League champions after the club’s 22-year wait for the title and has established himself as the longest-serving manager in English football.
The Spaniard has also become a central figure in Arsenal’s transfer strategy, with the club’s recruitment and pursuit of elite players closely aligned with his vision.
The summer arrivals of Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa, as well as Arsenal’s unsuccessful pursuits of Vinicius Jr and Julian Alvarez, reflected the club’s willingness to invest heavily in the squad.
The BBC reports that Arsenal’s ownership sees Arteta’s continued presence as central to the club’s ambitions, particularly with the current squad considered capable of building a sustained legacy.
A new agreement would take Arteta closer to a decade in charge of Arsenal, where he has already surpassed every other current Premier League and EFL manager in length of service.
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