According to a report from The Sun, Arsenal are encountering challenges in negotiating a new contract with William Saliba while Paris Saint-Germain monitor the situation closely. With just one year left on his existing £40,000-a-week contract, Arsenal are eager to secure the services of the French international on a long-term basis.
Saliba’s Impressive Season At Arsenal
Saliba had a solid campaign with the Gunners, performing at a high level for them on the defensive third of the pitch. The 22-year-old has scored three goals and created one assist over 33 appearances for the North London club this season in multiple competitions.
The French powerhouse gave a good account of himself by averaging 1.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 3.0 clearances per game in Ligue 1. He also took care of the ball well when distributing it from the back, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 91.0% in the French top tier (stats via whoscored).
Should Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Consider Parting Ways with Saliba This Summer?
Saliba showcases his defensive prowess through strong tackles and a keen sense of anticipation, swiftly regaining possession for his team. His ability to clear the ball when necessary and his imposing 1.92m frame make him formidable in aerial battles. Additionally, the versatile French talent is adept at playing out from the back and can even fill in as a right-back if required. At the age of 22, Saliba possesses the immense potential to develop into a world-class defender.
Mikel Arteta firmly asserts that Saliba is an indispensable component of his future vision for the team and has no intentions of parting ways with him during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The North London club are prepared to present Saliba with a lucrative £120k-a-week contract, envisioning him as their defensive cornerstone for the foreseeable future. However, the player’s representatives’ lofty demands have seen the negotiations hit a snag, leaving both parties far from reaching a resolution.
Arteta must promptly develop a strategy to convince Saliba and secure his long-term commitment at the Emirates Stadium, as failure to do so could potentially result in the Gunners losing him to PSG in the upcoming summer transfer window.
