Arsenal make contract decision as Andrea Berta puts summer transfer plans in motion

Arsenal are not hanging about ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

Since their Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain this week, rumours have broken that the Gunners have opened talks with key man William Saliba about a new contract amid interest from Real Madrid in the centre-back, and have also reached a verbal agreement over a move for Martin Zubimendi.

The Spanish midfielder has long been of interest to the Gunners, and football.london understands that the club have been confident in getting the deal done for some time, with other deals worked on under the expectation he would be joining.

And now Arsenal are said to have opened talks over another new contract. This time it's for Leandro Trossard, who joined the club in January 2023 on a deal which is set to expire next summer - though the club do also have the option to extend that by a year until 2027.

Instead, they've opened talks about the possibility of a new contract with the Belgian star, which would be set to run until 2029. The former Brighton man was the subject of a bid from Al-Ittihad in September of last year, but the Gunners turned down the bid for the now 30-year-old.

Should terms be agreed on the new contract, it would tie him to the club until he turns 34. The Daily Mail states that the attacker's "high level of fitness in terms of longevity" are a key aspect of the club deciding to offer such a long contract to a player over the age of 30.

While it has not all gone to plan this season for Arsenal, Trossard has been able to play a larger-than-expected part for the club due to injuries to Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in the attacking line. The Belgian star has made 53 appearances in all competitions so far this season, 35 of which came as part of the starting XI.

The Gunners are looking to strengthen the attacking line this summer, with links to the likes of Alexander Isak and Nico Williams among others. That is in addition to the expected arrival of Zubimendi in midfield.

A new four-year deal for Trossard would certainly be a big show of faith in the 30-year-old from Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta, with his place in the squad seemingly safe amid a summer of turnover amid the arrival of Berta as the club's new sporting director.

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