There is plenty of talk of the priority dealings that Arsenal need to complete this summer and it could end up being one of the most expensive in the club’s history. Whether the links to Declan Rice materialise in addition to Moises Caicedo, or the Gunners secure a top-class forward, there are needs all over the squad.
However, for many, perhaps the likes of Rice being signed would be swapped to ensure the future of a player already at the club. Arsenal have done exceedingly well to keep their best talents at the club with many signing new deals this season.
Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhães and Aaron Ramsdale signed contract extensions and before the final game of the season, the club announced that star Hale End graduate Bukayo Saka had also secured his future. The England international renewing his deal until 2027.
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Yet one player remains with his deal running dangerously close to its conclusion at the end of the 2023/24 season, William Saliba. Perhaps more than any signing made externally this summer being able to tie down the Frenchman to a new deal would be the biggest success of the summer.
Were Saliba to leave, trying to find a replacement at his age, for the price he’d move on for with just a year on his deal seems next to impossible. Effectively there is little-to-no chance of not experiencing a drop off in that position’s quality if Saliba leaves.
Furthermore, after the aforementioned deals for Saka, Martinelli etc, locking in Saliba would be an even greater show of what this Arsenal side is capable of in 2023/24. Not only challenging for titles but keeping hold of all of their best talents.
Arsenal fell away under Arsene Wenger having lost the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri. With the club back on the rise under Arteta there is no room to see regression and that goes for keeping hold of the best players.
So forget Rice and Moises Caicedo for a moment because if there is one priority this summer it should be locking down William Saliba to a brand-new deal. For the record, football.london understands that the Gunners are indeed confident of achieving this goal.
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