Arsenal manager Unai Emery has hinted that Danny Welbeck could be handed a new contract to stay at the Emirates.
The 28-year-old’s current deal expires in the summer, but despite the player being unlikely to play before the end of the season due to an ankle injury, Emery said he hopes discussions over a new deal will take place:
“It’s difficult for him to play matches this season but he is progressing very well and maybe the doctor will tell us he can come train with us in the last weeks of this season. After, his individual thing is to speak with the club [about his future].”
Fans on Twitter are split over whether Welbeck’s contract should be renewed:
Gotta give him a 1 year extension right
— . (@NotJustAMedic_) 31 March 2019
Come on I need him here he deserves it and his physical strength is needed as a forward
— Emran Arnaud (@ArnaudEmran) 31 March 2019
Not happening
— @king pickle ? (@youngmiizfit) 31 March 2019
— Dickie G (@RichDevall) 30 March 2019
Give him a contract (would demand a pay rise due to being a free transfer), don’t buy anyone because we’ve given him a contract, send the mentioned youth players on loan and then Welbeck inevitably gets injured again. We’ll be left short and everyone will be blaming the club.
— Alex Dawson (@_alexWD) 31 March 2019
Danny Welbeck's contract at Arsenal will expire at the end of this season. I believe it is time we both move on because Welbeck needs playing time and Arsenal wants to free up it's wage bill. #Arsenalnews #AFC #arsenal pic.twitter.com/tMijRmaEKg
— ARSENAL TRUE FANS (@arsenal_true) 31 March 2019
If his salary reasonable with pay perplay like jack wilshere is good reason to extend with worries of his injury background
— Victor Octalino (@Victoroctalino) 31 March 2019
A manager like emery who values work ethic highly can get the best out of a player like welbeck. If we can afford him along with a couple transfer fees I say why not
— chase matthews (@carnborn) 31 March 2019
As much as i love Danny, its time to release him. Head over heart. We need to free up wages.
— Amey sathe (@Reverseball14) 31 March 2019
I don’t think they’ll offer him a contract, he’s on £100k + a week and I think this is the sort of situation that the Arsenal want to stop happening unless they are regular first team players playing week in, week out
— Stuart Lane (@redgoonerstu) 31 March 2019
One of the major considerations will be whether Arsenal finish in a Champions League spot. Welbeck is likely to be on a high wage and if the Gunners end the season outside of the top four, the wage bill will likely need to be cut.
Considering too that the former Manchester United striker is not first choice, with both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of him in the pecking order at the Emirates, a renewal does appear to be unlikely as things stand.
