Transfer Rumors: Ex-Arsenal Great Cautions Bukayo Saka From Joining Manchester City

With the football world’s transfer window set to open on June 30, clubs around the world are going to want to improve upon their rosters and one of them includes the reigning English Premier League Champions in Manchester City.

The club has been linked towards stealing away young Arsenal star Bukayo Saka in recent days, but a Gunners legend sent out a warning for Saka about possibly joining Manchester City.

“Well, there is obviously a transitional stage at Arsenal, that Mikel [Arteta] is part of, and [Bukayo] Saka is massively part of it as well. The younger crop of players at Arsenal coming through, I feel as though the club need to keep hold of him, simple as that,” Theo Walcott told talkSPORT.

“Obviously, when Manchester City coming knocking on the door, it is such a hard thing for any player really to turn down. He needs to understand that the playing opportunities will be limited at Manchester City.”

Walcott’s comments do have basis in them as Saka joining the Cityzens would further stack the deck in their favor, but it would also mean that the English winger will need to play a less prominent role.

With guys like Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez occupying Saka’s main positions, it remains to be seen where Saka would fit in their plans.

Sterling has been recently tied up in rumors with both Chelsea and La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid this summer, so him leaving the club and replacing him with Saka could be a potential situation.

Arsenal found their footing in the middle of the season after a disappointing start that had fans calling for the head of manager Mikel Arteta and Saka was an important piece in that turnaround.

In a total of 43 appearances, Saka was able to find the back of the net 12 times and added seven assists to propel Arsenal to a fifth-place finish–one spot ahead of Manchester United.

Arteta previously spoke of pulling out all the stops to keep Saka on their side of the field as clubs begin to circle around him, despite having two years left on his deal that he signed in 2020.

At the end of the day, it is going to be the burgeoning superstar’s decision and Walcott hopes it will be with Arsenal.

“I am hopeful he will be at Arsenal next season. I am pretty sure of that.”