Santi Cazorla set to sign new deal at Arsenal

Santi Cazorla to sign new deal?

Arsenal midfielder Santiago Cazorla is on the verge of signing a new contract with the club as Arsene Wenger looks to secure the futures of several key players, reports the Daily Mail.

The Spaniard signed for the Gunners from La Liga outfit Malaga in a £15 million deal in 2012 and has become an integral part of Wenger’s side with the Frenchman now keen to reward his outstanding performances this season with an improved deal.

The 29-year-old is believed to have already entered into preliminary negotiations with Arsenal over the possibility of a three year deal that would keep him at the club until 2017 and see him receive £80,000 a week in wages.

Arsenal’s chief executive Ivan Gazidis declared last month that the north Londoners were focused on keeping their stars with the club hopeful that the trio of Per Mertesacker, Bacary Sagna and Tomas Rosicky will all commit to contract extensions in the near future.

The Gunners have seen a string of high profile players leave the club due to contract and wage disputes in recent years with the most notable examples Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebyaor, who both departed for free spending Manchester City, and Robin van Persie’s acrimonious exit for Old Trafford.

If Wenger is to challenge for silverware it is crucial that he manages to keep his team together and avoid any departures, with Cazorla representing a major coup if, as expected, he commits his long term future to Arsenal.