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William Saliba expected to agree to a significant new Arsenal contract, with the defender set to rebuff Real Madrid interest.
Arsenal is reportedly preparing a lucrative contract extension for their star defender, William Saliba, in a bid to fend off growing interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid. The French international has been a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s squad, and the Gunners are keen to secure his long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.
William Saliba joined Arsenal in 2019 from Saint-Etienne for a reported fee of £27 million. Initially, he spent time on loan at Saint-Etienne, Nice, and Marseille, where he honed his skills and developed into one of the most promising young defenders in European football. His impressive performances in Ligue 1 earned him a place in the French national team, where he played every minute for Les Bleus at Euro 2024.
Since returning to Arsenal, Saliba has formed a formidable partnership with Gabriel Magalhães at the heart of the Gunners’ defense. This partnership has been instrumental in Arsenal’s defensive solidity, with the team boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, conceding only 23 goals.
Real Madrid’s interest in Saliba comes as no surprise, given their ongoing defensive issues. The Spanish club has been plagued by injuries to key defenders such as Eder Militao and David Alaba, both of whom have suffered ACL tears. With Carlo Ancelotti relying on academy graduates to fill the gaps, it is no wonder that a player of Saliba’s caliber has caught their attention.
Despite Real Madrid’s long-standing admiration for Saliba, Arsenal remains determined to keep their star defender. Journalist Fabrizio Romano also revealed in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter that there is nothing going on in terms of a potential deal – with no talks or negotiations between the two clubs at present.
Arsenal is reportedly planning to offer Saliba a new contract worth about €250,000 per week, which would put him on par with the highest paid players at the club, according to TBR Football. This contract extension is seen as a top priority for the Gunners, as they continue their push for silverware under Arteta. Losing a player of Saliba’s quality would be a significant setback, especially as the North London side aims to challenge for the Premier League title once again.
The Gunners have already prepared their contract offer, although negotiations are not expected to begin for several months. The club aims to complete the deal ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
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