Arsenal are holding talks with William Saliba’s representatives about extending his contract at the Emirates, according to reports in the French media.
The 20-year-old is currently out on loan at Marseille, but his current deal with the Gunners expires in 2024 and the London club want to protect his value.
Supporters on Twitter have been debating whether Saliba will sign on the dotted line, considering he has been sent out on loan on two occasions by manager Mikel Arteta:
Give him the keys to the castle, anything he wants just get him home now!!!
— Kraiggy (@Kruptos6) February 25, 2022
Hopefully he will sign that🤞🏻I wouldnt be mad tho if he didnt want to after everything that happened to him
— ArsenalStartingXI (@ArsenalStarting) February 25, 2022
Get him back competing for places with white and Gabriel next season
— Magic Man🪄 (@afcmagic100) February 25, 2022
He won’t sign a contract unless he starts playing. That’s what I assume. That will be a headache for Arteta
— Ting (@thountula) February 25, 2022
Bring him back
— Inyene Gabriel (@InyeneGabriel2) February 25, 2022
But I thought Arteta hated him?
— Meeks (@Meeks_IS) February 25, 2022
I think he will play all the FA,carabao and 5-10 PL games next season if we get champions league.
— Eman (@DaVieiraaa) February 25, 2022
As some fans have pointed out, Saliba will likely be seeking assurances about his game time next season before agreeing to sign a new contract.
With Ben White and Gabriel being the club’s first-choice centre-back partnership, Arteta may find it difficult to give such guarantees but there is surely room for a player of Saliba’s ability in the squad.
Following Calum Chambers’ departure for Aston Villa and, with Pablo Mari not expected to have a long-term future at the Emirates, Saliba won’t have as much competition to get games so we shall see how negotiations develop.
