Arsenal open five-year Saliba contract talks amid ankle injury

Arsenal have opened formal talks with defender William Saliba, offering the France international a reported five year contract that would extend his stay beyond his current deal, while the club also faces uncertainty over how long he will be sidelined after an ankle problem. The negotiations are ongoing, club sources said, as European heavyweights continue to monitor the 24 year old and Arsenal weigh the risk of losing one of their most important players.

The offer, first reported by media outlets, would come with a significant pay rise for Saliba, who is understood to be on about 190,000 pounds a week at present and would see that figure rise if a new deal is signed. Arsenal have moved quickly to open talks as the defender enters the final two years of his current contract, with sporting director Andrea Berta leading a push to secure longterm commitments from key players.

Saliba has been central to Arsenal's defensive resurgence under manager Mikel Arteta, forming a highly rated partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes that helped the club challenge at the top of the Premier League. His form has attracted persistent interest from top European clubs, and Arsenal view a new contract as...