Arsenal ‘confident’ they can get William Saliba ‘deal done’ after Real swoop
Arsenal are drawing up a William Saliba plan to overcome their slow contract talks and keep him long-term.
Sources told Football Insider on 16 September that there is a delay in contract discussions between Saliba and Arsenal.
This comes after the Frenchman received intense transfer interest with former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown exclusively telling Football Insider in July that Real Madrid are monitoring Arsenal’s Saliba.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the Gunners are keen to keep the centre-back who is a part of Mikel Arteta‘s long-term thinking.
At the end of the 2025-26 campaign the 24-year-old will have just one-year left on his contract which has made the north London outfit uneasy over his commitment to the club.
Arsenal in talks over long-term contract with William Saliba
Football Insider revealed on 31 August that Liverpool are not concerned about Real Madrid target Ibrahima Konate despite missing out on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
The Frenchman is in the last year of his deal at Anfield and if los Blancos sign him on a free agent the Gunners will be far more reassured over their current standoff with Saliba.
If the Spanish giants snub the Arsenal centre-back to bring in Konate this could reinforce talks between the north London outfit and the ex-Marseille defender over a long-term deal.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “Look, the interest from Real Madrid, PSG or whoever, that’s not going to go away because Saliba is a top player and one of the best centre-backs in European football.
“But I think Arsenal, they’re in talks over a long term improved contract to try and keep him and sort of say that they see him as a mainstay in the team going forward.
“I think there’s confidence within the Arsenal side that they can get a deal done to sort of extend his stay at the North London club and sort of end this ongoing speculation that he could be prised away.”
Real Madrid to remain interested in William Saliba until long-term deal finalised
Brown exclusively told Football Insider on 17 September that Real Madrid have been very public over their pursuit of William Saliba.
Until the France international signs a new deal to push his asking price rocketing up, the Santiago Bernabeu will not be ruled out as a future destination for the number two.
Real Madrid signed Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen over the summer to strengthen in the middle of defence but Xabi Alonso is clearly not 100 per cent happy with the players in the backline.
The attraction and pull los Blancos maintain is enough to entice any player to come to the Spanish capital and play for one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Another season without a trophy under Arteta could also provoke Saliba to strongly consider leaving the team in search of guaranteed silverware.