Arsenal left ‘shocked’ by William Saliba’s contract demands, Edu could be forced to sell
Reports suggest that Arsenal is becoming more worried about the ongoing contract negotiations with William Saliba and has been taken aback by his demands.
According to The Sun, William Saliba’s contract situation is causing concern for Arsenal. Unlike other players with expiring contracts, Arsenal does not have the option to extend Saliba’s contract for an additional year.
While the club has successfully secured new contracts for players like Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale, negotiations with Saliba have proven to be more problematic.
The report states that Saliba’s representatives have surprised Arsenal’s management with their salary demands, leading to a growing apprehension that the center-back may need to be sold during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Arsenal is determined not to let William Saliba’s contract expire and risk losing him on a free transfer. Therefore, this is the club’s final opportunity to sell him if he decides not to renew his contract.
Despite months of negotiations, the parties involved are reportedly far from reaching an agreement. Arsenal has offered Saliba a contract worth £120,000 per week, but this figure falls significantly short of the demands made by his representatives.
Furthermore, there is the possibility that Paris Saint-Germain could offer Saliba a more lucrative deal, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
Arsenal is concerned that Paris Saint-Germain, backed by Qatari investment, can offer William Saliba a significantly higher salary that they cannot compete with.
PSG is reportedly willing to go to great lengths to attract Saliba to the Parc des Princes and is looking to build a stronger contingent of young French players in their squad.
Saliba fits the profile they are seeking. Arsenal is said to be putting in extra effort to find a resolution in the situation, as the player is currently one of the lowest-paid members of the first team.
The club does not want to enter the new season with uncertainty surrounding Saliba’s future.
If William Saliba informs Arsenal that he will not sign a contract extension, Paris Saint-Germain would likely hope to secure his services for a reduced fee.
In such a scenario, Arsenal might even struggle to recoup the £27 million they initially paid for the defender in 2019. Saliba had an impressive season at Arsenal after returning from a loan spell at Marseille, although he has been sidelined with a back injury since March.
During his absence, Arsenal’s form declined, as they only managed to gather nine points out of a possible 24 towards the end of the season. However, the medical team is optimistic that Saliba will fully recover in time for pre-season.
Arsenal left ‘shocked’ by William Saliba’s contract demands, Edu could be forced to sell
