Arsenal are reportedly confident of agreeing on a deal with William Saliba before the season ends, with the defender’s deal expiring in 2024.
According to Give Me Sport, Arsenal are confident of agreeing on a new contract with William Saliba soon. The French centre-back’s deal expires in 2024, and there is a good feeling about him committing many years to the club.
Arsenal are flying at the moment and continued their stride at the top of the table with a comfortable victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday night. Mikel Arteta recalled most of his first-team regulars and put out a familiar lineup against the Midlands side. Martin Odegaard’s second-half double secured the win as the Gunners went five points ahead of Manchester City.
As the team heads into the World Cup break, there is plenty to ponder for the executives planning in the background. Chief on the agenda are plans for recruitment in January to strengthen Arsenal’s case in the Premier League title challenge.
The north Londoners are also looking to secure the futures of three of their prominent stars in the team. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and William Saliba remain pencilled in to commit their long-term futures at the club. However, they are no closer to agreeing on a new deal yet.
There is an air of confidence around the futures of Saka and Martinelli, but many have doubted Saliba to stay put for the long term. The 21-year-old defender arrived in 2019 when Arsenal paid £27 million to Saint Etienne. However, it took him more than three years to make his competitive debut for the club.
First under Unai Emery, then Arteta, Arsenal decided a loan move was the best route to aid Saliba’s development. The spell at Marseille last season proved particularly useful. The 21-year-old defender got awarded Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Year after helping the club finish second in the standings.
Those performances earned Saliba an entry into the French national side, and he will play a part in the Qatar World Cup starting next week. Naturally, there’s plenty of interest from top clubs like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Widespread reports suggested that Arsenal have an option on Saliba’s contract to extend the deal beyond 2024. The reality could be different, as his original deal expires in 2023, with the club holding the option to extend until 2024.
Yet, Arsenal remain confident of agreeing on an extension before the season finishes. The Gunners want to reward the 21-year-old for his terrific performances this season. The likely timeline would be after January, as Saliba is off with France for the World Cup.
The Gunners would offer a longer term contract and increase his salary in line with his stature in the team. Despite some earlier doubts, Saliba has shown signs of comfort within Arteta’s setup. Hence, there is a belief within the fanbase that his future remains at Arsenal for the future.
