June 01, (THEWILL) – Arsenal is in the midst of contract negotiations with French defender, William Saliba, although an agreement is not yet close to being finalised.
Saliba’s representatives are not seeking a move away from the club, but are instead requesting a contract that reflects his status as one of the best young defenders globally. The 22-year-old centre-back had an impressive first season with Arsenal, but his campaign was cut short due to injury, which marked a downward turn for Arsenal.
Saliba joined the Gunners in 2019, but spent the next three seasons on loan at various clubs in France, including Nice and Marseille. After returning to Arsenal last summer, he seized the opportunity to impress under manager Mikel Arteta. Contract discussions between Arsenal and Saliba began in September, but the club is still some way from meeting the player’s demands.
Saliba is aware of fellow Saint-Etienne graduate, Wesley Fofana’s substantial contract at Chelsea and believes he deserves a similar deal. Despite the Frenchman’s refusal of the current contract proposals, sources indicate that Arsenal remains confident in his desire to stay and expects to reach new terms before the start of the upcoming season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
