Arsenal are now expected to work on a new and improved contract for centre-back William Saliba, according to Ryan Taylor.
The journalist has been speaking about the French defender’s future in north London on his latest YouTube video rounding up the latest transfer news.
And there is now an expectation Mikel Arteta’s side will look to tie Saliba down to a new deal with just two years remaining on his current deal with the Gunners.
Saliba has returned to his parent club having spent the last three seasons out on loan at three separate Ligue 1 sides, which saw him crowned the league’s Young Player of the Year last campaign while at Marseille.
And now having returned to Arteta’s squad and dislodging Ben White from his starting spot at centre-back on Friday night, Taylor expects a new deal to be in the offing.
He said: “I don’t know how far along the line it is, but Arsenal do want to tie William Saliba down to a new contract. Signed a five-year deal when he signed from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2019.
“And that means following his various loan spells with Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille, he’s only got two years left on his deal. And as we saw in the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Friday in the opening game of the season, he was immense. He earned rave reviews, really, from the likes of Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, and even his manager Mikel Arteta.
“So he’s very much part of Arsenal’s thinking for the long term and he will be an important player this season. So Arsenal will be looking to tie him down to a new contract in the coming weeks and months and I do expect that to happen.”
TIF Thoughts on Taylor’s comments…
Taylor’s comments certainly suggest there is a huge amount of trust and expectation from the north London side in the 21-year-old who has finally made his senior debut at Arsenal.
Is it too early to reward Saliba with a new deal?
Yes
No
And as mentioned, to come straight back to Arsenal and push White – who played 34 games at centre-back last season – is a massive indication of how highly Arsenal rate the Frenchman.
With this being the case, we can absolutely understand why they will be wanting to tie him down to a new deal with the possibility of him becoming their focal point in defence for years to come.