By Abimbola Ogunnaike
As Arsenal now look to make the leap and become regular title contenders, they are prepared to once again dish out salaries befitting of elite players, German newspaper Bild reports, saying Kai Havertz, a new signing from Chelsea, is the first beneficiary.
According to the newspaper, the 24-year-old will reportedly take home a salary of £330,000-a-week, though that figure could get even higher when bonuses are factored in – making him the club’s highest earner since Mezut Ozil.
Declan Rice has been offered a virtually identical salary and Arsenal are prepared to create a new band of high earners for their top bracket of ever-increasing world-class players.
Mikel Arteta believes Havertz can be a key player for the Gunners next season despite a somewhat lacklustre campaign for Chelsea, with the German to be pushed back into a midfield role.
Largely playing as a false nine, Havertz was Chelsea’s top scorer last season – albeit only netting seven times in the Premier League – but Arteta wants to utilise him in his midfield three next seasons.
Recall that Havertz, German international, completed a 65 million pounds move to to the Emirates from Chelsea last week, becoming the club’s first new arrival of what is shaping up to be a very busy summer.
In addition to bringing in Havertz, the Gunners have also agreed a 105 million pounds deal with West Ham midfield maestro Declan Rice and are closing in on a £40m swoop for Ajax’s Jurrien Timber.
Not only are Arsenal splashing the cash in terms of transfer fees, but the club have also increased their wage budget after several years of cost-cutting.
Big earners like Mezut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were all let go under Arteta’s watch, with a core of young, predominantly homegrown players getting paid far less.
Thomas Partey had been the club’s highest earner on just under £200,000-a-week – sitting apart from the rest of the squad – though new deals for stars like Bukayo Saka had brought more players in line with that figure.
The Spanish coach notably referenced his new signing as a midfielder when discussing his arrival and there is an expectation that he will take on the foraying, box-to-box role performed by Granit Xhaka – who is set to join Bayer Leverkusen.
Timber, who is on the verge of joining from Ajax, will not be offered as lucrative a deal as his fellow summer signings, just as another target, Southampton teenager Romeo Lavia, will also be on a more modest salary.
