Arsenal Transfer News: Alex Iwobi, Hector Bellerin Among 4-Man Contract Rumours

Arsenal are hoping to secure the future of young midfield star Alex Iwobi by handing him a bumper new deal just six months after he signed his last one. 

The Nigeria international has impressed for the Gunners this season and has played his way into the first-team lineup on a regular basis. As a result, he is due to be offered an improvement on his current £25,000-per-week deal, per John Cross of the Mirror.

Cross also reported the club are looking to offer new deals to Hector Bellerin, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

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Iwobi made his Arsenal breakthrough with a series of eye-catching displays last season. His hard-running, energetic style in midfield has given Arsene Wenger's side an extra dimension in attack during the Gunners' strong start to the campaign.

The 20-year-old represented England at youth level but opted to play for Nigeria, and his continued progress looks set to embarrass national-team bosses.

Per Daniel Taylor of the Guardian, Iwobi's decision presented "some awkward questions about how one of the outstanding young talents in English football has now been lost in the system."

A recent tweet from Iwobi showed he is proud to be a Nigeria player:

Meanwhile, the Gunners are also attempting to tie down Bellerin to a new, longer-term deal to help ward off interest from Manchester City and Barcelona.

Bellerin has been a revelation at right-back since bursting on to the first-team scene, with his exploits making him a top target for both clubs, per Paul Hirst of the Times.

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The Spanish defender, still only 21, was a Barcelona youngster before making the move to north London.

Gunners boss Wenger will be loath to see the player return to Spain like former captain Cesc Fabregas, or follow others such as Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna to Premier League rivals City.

As Tom Olver of Metro noted of Bellerin:

"

[He] has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in English football but his roots very much lie in Catalonia, just as Fabregas' did and always will do...

If Bellerin were to return to Barca the move would likely be understood by even the most diehard Arsenal fans – just as many eventually came to terms with Fabregas' departure – but a transfer to the Etihad would be a devastating blow for Gooners.

"

Arsenal are also desperate to keep star men Sanchez and Ozil at the club and reportedly began talks over new contracts for the pair last month, according to Jeremy Wilson for the Telegraph.

Both players have been instrumental at the Emirates since their arrivals, and their contracts run out in 2018.