Arsenal desperate to renew Saliba contract as ‘three major clubs’ make transfer contact

Arsenal are hoping to tie William Saliba down to a new deal with a number of clubs interested in his services, according to reports.

The Frenchman has been brilliant for Arsenal in his first season in Mikel Arteta’s side with Saliba helping the Gunners challenge for the Premier League title.

They have felt his absence in recent weeks with some of the Gunners’ worst form of the season coinciding with his absence from the squad.

Saliba has been missing since sustaining a back injury in mid-March in a Europa League match against Sporting Lisbon .

His brilliant form for Arsenal has not gone unnoticed elsewhere with French publication RMC Sport claiming that ‘three major clubs’ have made enquiries about the centre-back.

Saliba only has one season remaining on his Arsenal contract but the Gunners have now ‘started negotiations to extend it’ – but ‘no agreement has been reached’ so far.

That leaves Arsenal open to losing Saliba on the cheap this summer or for nothing when his contract expires at the end of June 2024.

There was a time when it looked like Saliba would leave Arsenal before even kicking a competitive ball for the Gunners following a number of loan spells.

But his brilliant performances on loan at Marseille last season earned him the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award and convinced Arteta to give him a go in the first team this campaign.

to all but end their chances of beating Manchester City to the Premier League title with their defending criticised.

However, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has debunked the “myth” that Arsenal’s defensive problems only started when Saliba picked up his injury.

“After the World Cup, still with William Saliba in the team… [they played] 13 games and conceded 14,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“Not the end of the world, but they went from the best in the league [before the World Cup] to 10th. That is a massive drop-off.

“Five times in 13 games, even with William Saliba, they conceded 2+ goals. That tells you what after the World Cup, they were completely different defensively.

“Without William Saliba they drop even further… But this idea that they weren’t conceding goals or looking vulnerable with William Saliba at centre-back is a myth.”