Arsenal want to secure Aaron Ramsey’s long-term future as quickly as possible but it may prove more expensive than initially planned, claims The Daily Mail.
Ramsey has entered the final 18 months of his existing contract and the Gunners want to resolve his future before the end of the season to avoid a situation like they encountered with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez this summer.
Arsenal were forced to let Sanchez join Manchester United last month but did managed to convince Ozil to renew his deal, albeit on a club-record £350,000-a-week salary.
The Gunners have also agreed to pay £200,000-a-week to January signings Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but Arsene Wenger is adamant these deals will not complicate matters for their existing players.
Ramsey currently earns £110,000-a-week and will be within his right to expect a significant pay rise following Arsenal’s business in January but if an agreement is not reached before the end of the season then their rivals may try and prise the Welshman away from the Emirates.
The 27-year-old scored his first Arsenal hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of Everton to take his tally in the Premier League to six for the season. In addition to the six assists he has registered, no Arsenal player has played a direct hand in more league goals this season.
