Arsenal’s William Saliba future plan amid Real Madrid interest

Arsenal are building a squad for the future with the ongoing rebuild still well underway. Another transfer window passed, Mikel Arteta’s fifth, and the departures kept stacking up.

Trimming the first team squad down to 21 players – including three goalkeepers – it’s become clear who the manager sees as part of the group that will lead Arsenal into a new era.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Barcelona took January’s tally of exits up to six, in particular leaving the club light at centre-forward.

That wasn’t the only position that thinned out, however, with Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari’s respective moves elsewhere reducing Arsenal’s number of central defenders down to just three. Takehiro Tomiyasu can fill in there, but in terms of recognised options it is now just Benjamin White, Gabriel and Rob Holding.

Arsenal’s William Saliba future plan is to extend his contract in the summer amid Real Madrid, AC Milan and Inter transfer interest

The trio should be enough to see out the remaining 17 Premier League matches. Next season, when it is hoped there will be European football to complement the league, more will be needed. One of whom is William Saliba.

Still garnering outstanding reviews at Marseille with coaches, pundits and opposition players alike even making comparisons to Thiago Silva, the 20-year-old has clocked up more minutes than any other Under-21 player across the entirety of Europe. This is now his third season away on loan from Arsenal having joined for £27m in 2019, and a decision on his future is vital.

As per The Athletic, arranging a new contract for the Frenchman is unsurprisingly high on the list of priorities for Arsenal in the summer as his current deal expires in 2024. It’s that point in a contract where renewing or selling become the two key options, and indications are that the centre-back would like to return to north London and compete for a first-team place.

He will return as a far more accomplished player than the one who left.

Whether or not he wants to sign a new deal is another matter, as the taste of regular domestic and European football is something he will want to maintain, as well as that which he has proven he deserves. White and Gabriel are the starting pair and he has a job on his hands to wrestle his way into the Premier League starting lineup having yet to experience a single minute, or even matchday squad, in the division.

If he does show an unwillingness to commit then there will be no shortage of interest in him. Calcio Mercato list the likes of Real Madrid, Inter, AC Milan and current club Marseille among the sides keen on signing him, with the Gunners valuing Saliba at £25m. Indeed, £2m less than what they paid. Make of that what you will.

Despite clocking an outstanding amount of minutes and playing to an outstanding level, the fact Saliba only has two years left on his deal will weaken Arsenal’s position.

It will be one to revisit in the summer when he heads back to London Colney, and the next step hinges entirely on his willingness to sign an extension. If he does, though, he will be welcomed into this group with open arms. All aspects of his profile suit what the club are trying to build perfectly.

And, after all, he’s Arsenal’s player and they paid for him. There is that too.