‘William Saliba has immediate Arsenal exit route as contract issues expected’
William Saliba’s contract situation at Arsenal looks likely to present similar issues to what Liverpool are currently experiencing with Mohamed Salah and company, Ian Wright has suggested.
Arne Slot is currently having to discuss the future of three of his biggest stars, though Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that new Liverpool deals for Salah and Virgil van Dijk are “as good as done”.
Despite this, the drama at Anfield continues as supporters become restless over the deafening silence over contract updates, with less hope of keeping Trent Alexander-Arnold, and now the same could happen at the Emirates.
Having signed a new contract in 2023, Saliba’s current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2027, but fears are starting to emerge over his future if Mikel Arteta is not backed properly in the transfer window.
Arsenal are also currently faced with securing the future of England star Bukayo Saka and Saliba’s centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arsenal’s lack of spending could trigger William Saliba exit
Speaking via Wrighty’s House podcast [24 February], Wright said: “When you’re talking about renewals with certain players, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel [Magalhaes], Saliba, the way they’re moving now, I bet those renewals are all going to be slow.
“We’re going to have a situation maybe like Liverpool with Trent [Alexander-Arnold], Salah and Virgil [van Dijk]. If I’m one of these players, and their teams are going to be saying, ‘Let’s wait and see, we’ve got two years left so let’s wait and see who they get in the summer.’
“If they’re not going to get the kind of players that take us to the next step, look at Saliba. Real Madrid would take him tomorrow.”
The Gunners’ lack of spending in the winter transfer window has already come back to bite them, with Gabriel Jesus’ and Kai Havertz’s long-term injuries leaving the Arsenal team with no natural striker.
Mikel Arteta must add world-class players to the squad in summer
With Arteta having to lean on Mikel Merino to lead his side to victory against Leicester City, and a rather toothless display against West Ham, it is clear where Arsenal need to reinforce.
There is a tremendous amount of talent at the Spaniard’s disposal but there continues to be a single piece of the jigsaw missing, which is an out-and-out, goal-hungry striker.
| Premier League standings | Points |
| 1. Liverpool | 64 |
| 2. Arsenal | 53 |
Injuries to Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Ben White, who has now returned to the fray, have certainly weakened the side, and now the Gunners look set to give up the Premier League title chase.
Had Arsenal invested properly during the winter transfer window, rather than adding zero new faces, the team might have been lifting silverware at the end of the current campaign.
That does not look to be the case, however, and some of the star players might have one eye on a shock exit if the club show no signs of moving forward.
Saka, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel will all be desperate for success in the Champions League, as well as winning league titles, and a move elsewhere could finally seal that for them.