Arsenal 'make progress in William Saliba contract talks'

The former Saint-Etienne starlet belatedly enjoyed a breakthrough year at Arsenal in the 2022-23 season before his campaign was curtailed by a severe back injury in March.

Before entering the infirmary, Saliba shone in the Gunners backline with three goals and one assist from 33 matches, forming a solid partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes.

Saliba's absence towards the end of the season coincided with Arsenal's faltering form, as Mikel Arteta's side won just five of their 11 Premier League games without the Frenchman to cede first place to Manchester City.

The 22-year-old would have initially been able to walk away on a free transfer at the end of the season, but over the winter, the Gunners triggered a 12-month extension option in his contract to keep him at the club until 2024.

Given Saliba's immediate impact in the Arsenal rearguard, the Gunners are working to reward him with a lucrative new deal, and he is thought to have been offered fresh terms worth £120,000 a week.

However, it has been alleged that Arsenal have been left "shocked" by the financial demands of his agents, and as a result a breakthrough in negotiations is yet to materialise.

Nevertheless, football.london reports that discussions between the two parties are moving along nicely, and Saliba himself is keen to stay at the Emirates.

Saliba's entourage are not thought to be actively pushing for a move away from Arsenal for their client, but they want the defender to be compensated fairly for his status as a crucial first-team player.

Saliba was sent back to France on loan with Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille during his first three seasons at Arsenal, raising doubts over his long-term future at the Emirates after his £27m move in 2019.

The France international won the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award with Marseille in the 2021-22 season, and Les Olympiens fought to keep him at the club permanently, but he snubbed that opportunity in favour of a return to Arsenal.

The North London giants have already agreed contract renewals with several of their young regulars this term, with Saliba's centre-back partner Gabriel penning a new long-term deal in October.

Gabriel Martinelli, Mohamed Elneny, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale have also committed their futures to the Gunners, while captain Martin Odegaard is in line for improved terms after scoring 15 goals in the 2022-23 season.

English attacker Reiss Nelson is out of contract at the end of the month, but the 23-year-old is believed to be on the verge of agreeing a new four-year deal with his boyhood club.