Arsenal make contract decision with prized defender

Arsenal have been remodeling their squad considerably over the past few transfer windows with multiple new arrivals coinciding with an equally large amount of departures.

Given current form, much of the talk has centered around the six additions made over the previous summer window; players dubbed as expensive ‘backups’ have silenced onlookers who doubted their acquisitions.

Aaron Ramsdale, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga were initially thought to be bit-part inclusions, yet have turned the narrative on its head with impressive outings.

Beyond outgoings and incomings, extensive work has been made to tie down exciting talent on new long-term contracts: Emile Smith Rowe and Kieran Tierney being two of the recent standout names.

Arsenal make contract decision with prized defender Daniel Ballard who is set to extend his deal by two years and protect his transfer value

Away from the first team, however, this work has continued into the academy where Arthur Okonkwo and Folarin Balogun recently penned new deals and were promoted to the first team, with exciting prospect Kido Taylor-Hart another notable member of the Under-23 squad to commit his long-term future.

A similar move is being made with Daniel Ballard, whose rise through the Football League has been a constant success story. Loans spells have seen him go from youth levels, up to League 2, into League 1 and most recently the Championship in four consecutive seasons.

Some impressive form for Millwall this term has helped him become a key figure in the Northern Ireland national team, where he’s now accrued ten senior caps at 22 years old. His deal is due to expire in the coming summer and Arsenal are poised to extend that by a further two years, reports football.london.

As highly rated as Ballard is, this move is set to be with an eye on protecting his value as opposed to instilling him into Mikel Arteta’s first team next season, with the likes of Benjamin White, Rob Holding and William Saliba still ahead of him in the pecking order.

There is scope for Ballard to return to Arsenal and move out on loan to another side with interest high in his signature, although with Millwall sitting ninth in the Championship table with only four teams boasting a better defensive record, it seems unneeded. A decision can also be made with Miguel Azeez, should the club wish.

Classifying as homegrown only boosts his transfer value and Arsenal could be set to earn another neat profit on a player who has come through the Hale End academy.