ONE of Arsenal’s Premier League rivals has failed with a cheeky transfer approach for William Saliba, a report claims.
The 22-year-old defender is set to sign a new long-term contract with the Gunners.
The final details of the deal are still being worked out but the club are now confident of the Frenchman putting pen to paper.
It is understood that the contract, which will run to 2027 with the possibility of an option for a further 12 months, will be worth around £200,000-per-week.
That is considerably more than Arsenal were hoping to pay Saliba, whose current salary is only £40,000-a-week.
SunSport exclusively reported last month how Arsenal shocked by his demands.
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Now RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins has claimed that Manchester United cheekily attempted to try and pounce on the uncertainty with a shock surprise swoop.
Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich were also interested in Saliba with his present deal expiring in 2024.
However, now those fears have been dashed with an official announcement on the extension due in the coming weeks.
Saliba is currently recovering from the back injury which ruled him out of Arsenal’s final 11 games of the season and has not been included in the French squad for their forthcoming Euro qualifiers against Gibraltar and Greece.
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But it is hoped he will be fit enough to take part in next month’s pre-season tour of the USA and the aim is to have the contract signed before they cross the Atlantic.
Saliba, a £27million signing from St Etienne in 2019, becomes the fourth key Arsenal player this year to agree a new long-term contract, following on from Gabriel Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka.
Saliba struggled for years to make a breakthrough at the Emirates and headed back to his homeland for loan spells with Nice and Marseille.
But he formed a formidable partnership at the back with Gabriel this term and he remains key to boss Mikel Arteta’s future plans for the club.
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