William Saliba drops hint over Arsenal future

Stuart Telford

• 5 May 2023 19:55 BST
• 5 min read

William Saliba has yet to extend his Arsenal contract beyond the summer of 2024, leaving Gunners fans worried about his long-term plans.

Saliba has enjoyed a break-out season at the Emirates, and had started 27 games in helping Arsenal to the top of the Premier League before injuring his back against Sporting Lisbon in March.

Since then, Mikel Arteta's side have surrendered top spot to Manchester City, but Champions League qualification is almost assured, and Saliba will be a cornerstone of Arsenal's first assault on the competition in seven years once he's fit.

READ: When will Arsenal star William Saliba return from injury?

But his contract expiry is a cause for concern. Saliba was first signed from Saint-Etienne in 2019 but had spent much of the previous three years back on loan with them, Nice and Marseille. Accordingly, he has burned through more of his existing deal than some might have realised.

Saliba's new gym

But it looks like the Frenchman plans to stay where he is for the foreseeable if a quick social media snoop is anything to go by, with French retailer Sport-Protech posting pictures of them installing a new gym at Saliba's London home on Instagram.

"Thank you @w.saliba4, central defender of Arsenal FC and the France team, for entrusting us with this very beautiful project! A big thank you for your great welcome 💪🏽," they wrote.

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal boss Arteta set to be handed £200m summer transfer war chest

The gym features the usual treadmill, exercise bike and bench press, alongside a framed picture of basketball great Michael Jordan and another of the Peaky Blinders' Shelby brothers.

Saliba had completed 206 recoveries in the Premier League before his injury this season, whilst his value has climbed to €26.2 million per FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm.

Paris Saint-Germain in Saliba's native France are among the clubs since credited with an interest in the centre-back, but it would appears PSG - and indeed any other potential suitor - will have to be patient, with the player in for the long haul right where he is.