Arsenal plan to put Wednesday’s Champions League exit behind them by tieing down the future of one of their most crucial players, according to reports.
The Gunners have not lifted a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup triumph and their wait for silverware will extend for another season after they lost their Champions League semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain this week.
In the Premier League, Arsenal will register their lowest points total in three seasons, Liverpool having secured the title two weeks ago with four games to spare and manager Mikel Arteta admits that the club had gone ‘a step backwards’ domestically.
Arsenal are expected to be busy in the summer transfer window with Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton telling the latest ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ podcast that the Gunners’ shortcomings this season were due to their failure to bring in attacking reinforcements during the off season.
Just as important, however, will be holding onto the talent already at the Emirates. Arsenal fans will therefore be delighted that, according to The Athletic, sporting director Andrea Berta has held discussions with William Saliba’s camp in an effort to extend his stay.
The France defender, who has been one of Arsenal’s key players since he became a regular starter three seasons ago, signed a new contract in 2023 and at the end of this season will be entering the final two years of his deal.
William Saliba embraces Ben White as Jakub Kiwior (left) and Bukayo Saka look on amid Arsenal’s Champions League defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night
Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal have taken a ‘step backwards’ in the Premier League
William Saliba has become one of Arsenal’s key men and attracted interest from Real Madrid
The report explains that Arsenal have yet to make an offer to Saliba but that will come in due course as they progress discussions and pursue an agreement.
Saliba, 24, has attracted interest from a number of suitors, chief among them Real Madrid.
Having been eliminated from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage and looking likely to finish below Barcelona in La Liga, the Spanish giants are keen to inject some new blood in the heart of their defence with Antonio Rudiger now 32 and recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury.
In March, Saliba admitted that, although he was happy at Arsenal, winning trophies was a primary motivator for him.
‘I want to win big things with Arsenal,’ Saliba said. ‘If you leave this club without winning anything, the fans will forget about you. I want to win big things here.’
Arteta, meanwhile, attempted to play down any suggestion Saliba could be tempted by a move to the Spanish capital when he spoke ahead of last weekend’s defeat against Bournemouth.
‘Those kind of things are more for Andrea and the club to talk about,’ said the Arsenal manager.
Real Madrid are keen to bring in new blood with Antonio Rudiger now 32 and currently injured
‘What I’m certain, because I had the conversation with him, is that he is so happy here, that he wants to continue with us and what will happen in the future with our negotiations and things that have to take time and process and be on top of them.
‘But I’m quite confident that William is very happy here and that’s the place that he wants to be.’
Arsenal signed Saliba from Ligue 1 club Saint-Etienne in July 2019 when he was 18 years old and the defender remained with the French club before heading to north London for the 2020-21 season.
He was sent back to the French top flight on subsequent loan spells with Nice and Marseille, before breaking into Arsenal’s defence for the 2022-23 season.
