Bukayo Saka has been urged to stay at Arsenal by Theo Walcott amid reported interest from Manchester City and Liverpool. The England international has two years remaining on his contract at the Emirates.
The former Arsenal forward believes Saka's game time at Liverpool or City would be 'limited' with the two having stronger starting XI's than that of the Gunners.
Saka is yet to play in the Champions League and will have to wait at least another season to taste what playing in Europe's elite competition is like as Tottenham Hotspur pipped Arsenal to fourth spot late on last season.
READ MORE: Liverpool looking at range of transfer targets with Darwin Nunez on summer shortlist
READ MORE: Sadio Mane transfer replacement will prove Liverpool are still a destination club
Arsenal have made it a priority of theirs this summer to try and tie Saka down to an improved contract, but that may become trickier with the lack of Champions League football at the Emirates.
Walcott said on TalkSport : "Well, there is obviously a transitional stage at Arsenal, that Mikel is part of, and 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.
"Obviously, when Manchester City coming knocking on the door, it is such a hard thing for any player really to turn down. He is very young, but I feel that he likes the area of London in Arsenal, the fans have been fantastic, and at the Emirates, which is one of the best stadiums I have ever played in.
"He has great support, and I will be intrigued. My heart says he will be at Arsenal next season, and we will see after that. He needs to understand that the playing opportunities will be limited at Manchester City. He will, of course, be more likely to win things, but it is not saying Arsenal won’t win things.
"I think they are in that phase, they are slowly starting to get there. They would have taken fifth at the start of the season, given how it went. I am hopeful he will be at Arsenal next season, I am pretty sure of that."
