Concern remains that with the diminishing contract of William Saliba, the French international could leave Arsenal at the end of his contract or even sooner. The 21-year-old has finally kickstarted his Arsenal career three years after he arrived in 2019 from Saint-Etienne.
Hope remains that Saliba will renew his deal and football.london reporter Kaya Kaynak wrote in August that things are looking positive on Arsenal’s front. However, since then, Saliba has continued to put in impressive performances, no less so than in Arsenal’s most high-profile match of the season in yesterday’s North London Derby win.
It has been reported that Saliba is in no rush to negotiate at this stage and rightly so. The ball is in his court and there is sure to be no shortage of interest in the Frenchman whose chances of making Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad look very good.
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A performance like yesterday makes a potential exit even worse for Arsenal’s supporters, whose love for the player has grown rapidly this season. Anyone watching an Arsenal game this season knows the famous chant.
The dominant, composed and confident displays from Saliba are catching the eye of clubs around the continent and with less than two years remaining on his deal, offers are sure to come in. In a reality where Saliba decides that he wants to move on to a new challenge, it would be in the club’s interests to maximise the benefit of any exit.
Having Saliba for the final year of his deal before a free move away from the club would surely not benefit Arsenal more than selling in 2023 for a major transfer fee. Players have moved for major figures despite little time left on their contracts.
Just this summer saw both Robert Lewandowski and Gabriel Jesus command big fees. Eden Hazard cost Real Madrid more than £100 million despite having just one year remaining on his deal.
The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City are again likely to be looking toward Saliba. Arsenal will hope their impressive form continues to land themselves Champions League football to help convince the former Saint-Etienne starlet to stay.
Mikel Arteta has been very positive about Saliba. Therefore removing any doubt that the Spaniard now relies on him as a key part of his current and future plans.
“William has shown over the past few months what he is capable of, and that doesn’t mean that things are always going to go in the same direction but he’s been so good that from my side I have no doubts,” Arteta said ahead of Saturday’s win. The confidence is sure to have grown after yesterday.
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