Arsenal star's contract situation 'complicated' with European club 'desperate' to sign player

Gabriel Martinelli has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal - but the future of one of the club's other key players remains unresolved.

The Gunners had made the extension of Martinelli's deal a priority, with it due to expire in the summer of 2024.

The Brazilian has now committed his future to Arsenal, and has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with the option of an additional year.

Whilst sporting director Edu and boss Mikel Arteta are understandably delighted with the news, they must now turn to negotiating deals with two of Arsenal's other key young players.

One of those is Bukayo Saka, whose current deal runs until the summer of 2024. It was due to expire this summer, but Arsenal activated a year's extension option to prevent them from losing him for free, and to give them valuable negotiation time.

The other is France centre-back William Saliba, who also has a deal expiring in 2024 after the one year option was triggered by Arsenal - and there may be a hurdle in the way of convincing him to remain at the Emirates Stadium on a long-term basis.

Arsenal's Saliba interesting European giants

CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs has claimed that the defender gave serious thought to remaining at Marseille, where he spent last season on loan, this summer.

However, he decided to return to Arsenal and has played every Premier League game this season alongside Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back.

Jacobs now suggests that the terms of the contract need to be concluded before any deal can be signed - while another club's interest needs to be factored in.

Speaking to CaughtOffside, he explained: "PSG are still one to watch in the long-term. They're desperate to buy young, and desperate to buy French, so if no deal is signed there could be a window of opportunity there.

"Some say Saliba wouldn't be prepared to play for PSG having also represented OM. But remember, Saliba was born in Bondy, six miles from the centre of Paris. He would absolutely be open to joining if it became an option one day.

"Still, the advantage Arsenal have is that PSG have locked in [Inter Milan's] Milan Skriniar on a free transfer for the summer ... so it means they've got a centre-back."

According to French outlet Media Foot, PSG held talks with Saliba's agents in December - and Arsenal will be hopeful of convincing the 21-year-old to remain in north London instead of moving back to France.