Arsenal are building for the long term. A record summer window saw over £250 million spent on new faces, including Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, and Martin Zubimendi.
At the same time, the club have worked hard to protect their core. Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Gabriel Magalhaes have all signed new contracts in recent months.
Yet, the work is not over. The Emirates board know that several of Mikel Arteta’s most important players are entering a crucial phase of their deals.
By 2027, a handful of regular starters will be out of contract. While Gabriel Martinelli’s deal has a one-year option, the futures of others remain less certain.
For now, there is little concern about two names in particular. Both have been linked with elite clubs abroad, but Arsenal remain confident. Even so, Real Madrid are watching closely.
Florentino Perez has a habit of striking when the time is right. And the Bernabeu hierarchy are believed to have long-term interest in one of Arsenal’s defensive leaders.
The Spanish giants did not make a move this past summer, but reports suggest they may wait, hoping to tempt the player into running down his deal.
That would give Madrid the chance to negotiate a cheaper move in 2026 or even sign him for free in 2027.
To prevent such a scenario, Foot Mercato claims Arsenal have offered a new five-year deal that would keep William Saliba in North London until 2030.
Discussions are ongoing, with the club hopeful of a positive outcome. Still, there is no agreement between the Gunners and Saliba.
Since breaking into the side in 2022, the French defender has become the backbone of Arteta’s system, producing seven goals and two assists in 137 appearances.
At 24, he has become one of Europe’s finest centre-backs.
Arsenal know one thing: if they are to keep competing for the biggest prizes, they must ensure Saliba stays at the Emirates.
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