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Topics: Football, William Saliba, Premier League, Arsenal, Transfers, Paris Saint-Germain
Chris Byfield
Topics: Football, William Saliba, Premier League, Arsenal, Transfers, Paris Saint-Germain
Arsenal have been “shocked” by William Saliba’s contract demands, a fresh report has claimed.
After a broadly positive season in which the Gunners led the Premier League for some 248 days, the north London side are trying to secure their star performers to new deals.
Last week it was confirmed that Hale End graduate Bukayo Saka had signed a four-year contract at Arsenal.
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The winger netted 14 goals and contributed 11 assists this term as Mikel Arteta's men fell just short of claiming their first Premier League title in 19 years.
Saka’s contract extension came months after fellow winger Gabriel Martinelli also committed his long-term future to Arsenal.
Meanwhile, the club are also negotiating with Saliba over extending the centre-back’s deal.
It has been claimed, however, that talks over the new contract are not going as smoothly as Arsenal fans would have hoped.
According to the Sun, Arsenal have been “shocked” by the demands being made by Saliba’s representatives.
In turn, the French international is “nowhere near reaching an agreement” with the north Londoners.
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Arteta’s side are said to be offering the 22-year-old £120,000-a-week to commit his long-term future to the club. That would allegedly put Saliba on equal footing with the likes of Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
However, given the snag in negotiations, Arsenal "fear" that Qatari-backed Paris Saint-Germain will lure Saliba to the Parc de Princes on a bumper contract.
The Gunners are reportedly not prepared to let Saliba run down his contract and leave for free next summer, so the club are working overtime to reach a compromise agreement.
Indeed, the wage Arsenal can offer the Frenchman will be miles off the money PSG are capable of paying, particularly if the Ligue 1 champions can get the player for a cut-price fee with only a year of his contract to run.
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Saliba was a mainstay in Arsenal's defence over the 2023/24 campaign until a back injury ruled him out for the last 11 games of the season, which coincided with the team’s late collapse in the title race.