Arsenal has now provided an explanation for how and why they opted to offer winger Leandro Trossard a new contract without extending his current one. On Tuesday, it was announced that the Belgian had signed a new contract that increased his compensation but did not extend his term with the Emirates, with his current pact finishing in 2027, the same as his previous one.
There had been talk that Trossard would be permitted to leave the Gunners this summer if a good offer was made, and the unexpected nature of the transaction led to conjecture that Arsenal acted after learning of Kai Havertz’s injury. However, a recent report has put an end to that hypothesis and explained why it could not have been true.
Why Trossard was allowed a new contract.
According to The Athletic, Premier League rules allow teams to merely increase a player’s salaries without extending their contract before the competitive season begins. Once the season begins, every contract modification that increases salary must include a longer term.
This dispels the notion that the Gunners moved after learning of Havertz’s injury, given Mikel Arteta’s team had already played their first Premier League game of the season against Manchester United the previous Sunday. In actuality, the modification was decided upon prior to the start of the season.
As for why, improved performance and increased relevance had put the former Brighton player under pressure to sign a new contract.
Arsenal has always stated that they will not offer the forward a contract extension, citing his age — he turns 31 in December — and the fact that he still has plenty of time left on his current contract.
The club did, however, hint that they were willing to evaluate his pay to reflect his growing significance in the squad. The decision to raise his compensation now is part of fulfilling that pledge, but it is also a recognition of his good performances and a move to bring his pay in line with other senior players.
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