Arsenal remain calm and confident amid reports that Real Madrid have identified William Saliba as a top transfer target. The French defender, signed from Saint-Étienne for £27 million as an 18-year-old, has developed into one of the world’s leading centre-backs since making his senior debut for the Gunners in 2022.
Saliba has become a central figure under Mikel Arteta, forming a strong partnership with Gabriel Magalhães and drawing interest from several top European clubs. Real Madrid, who are seeking to strengthen their back line, are believed to view Saliba as their ideal long-term option.
Arsenal unmoved by Madrid’s plans
According to a report by AS, Arsenal are well aware of the growing attention surrounding Saliba but remain entirely relaxed about the situation. The club has no intention of entertaining offers for the 23-year-old and would reportedly reject bids even north of €100 million.
Despite interest from Madrid and other European heavyweights, Arsenal believe Saliba is committed to the project in north London and expect him to sign a contract extension in the coming months. His current deal runs until 2027.
While Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté is also on Madrid’s shortlist, Saliba is viewed as their dream target. That could change if Konaté becomes available, especially with reports suggesting he would be open to the move and has just 12 months left on his deal.
Saliba key to Arsenal’s title hopes
Saliba is currently with the Arsenal squad for their pre-season tour and is expected to play a key role once again as the Gunners look to challenge for silverware in the upcoming campaign.
A pivotal figure in the squad, Arsenal fans will be hoping that the club’s stance remains firm and that the French international continues to be a cornerstone of Arteta’s defensive line.
I can’t wait for the coming season now! How about you?
Benjamin Kenneth
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Oh great
It’s not a secret, is it. Real Madrid has been eying Saliba for a couple of seasons now.
It seems to me that they are biding their time, as they have done before with other players, to try and get someone on the most favourable terms – very sensible from their point of view.
Those tactics put the pressure on Arsenal because with two seasons left on his contract, they know that Saliba’s market value will decline as his contract runs down. Why pay €100 million now when he’d be cheaper next summer?
Obviously, one of Berta’s priorities (amongst many) will be to try and secure an extension asap rather than hope RM go after Konaté as an alternative. Whether Saliba will agree, or whether he’ll wait to see how successful Arsenal are in 2025-26, is the question.
The “journalists” have been eyeing him going to RM the minute he rose to fame.
I feel confident that Sakiba will extend his contract. With the addition of all these major signings, our project is really looking complete. Why would a players valued and prospering at a club leave at this juncture? This window’s transfer business has to boost our players’ confidence in the team. Wait, where is RM? They seem to be plummeting, I don’t know if RM is a better option.
I wouldn’t write off RM. Like Arnie in The Terminator, “they’ll be back”.
They have a new, quality, coach which, unusually, their club president actually waited for and money to spend (being by some distance the wealthiest club in the world).
Saliba will have to weigh up the possibility that Arsenal will finally begin to win trophies against the certainty that RM will, even after their “blip” of last season.
From Football 365:
“Real Madrid ‘offer’ £79m plus two players for Arsenal star
The La Liga giants have added Arda Güler as part of the deal, with a loan that would extend until the end of the season’, while the offer also includes Raúl Asensio, one of the jewels of the Real Madrid youth system.
Arsenal have not yet accepted or rejected the offer and are seriously considering it as the price offered and the players involved make the deal difficult to refuse.”
The plot thickens. Who knows?
Bertie,
Their offering us two attacking players for our defender?.🤷♂️
That’s true. If there’s any credence to the report, I suspect that RM could be flexible about who is offered. However, such player + cash deals very rarely happen so I’m not placing too much on this one.
I’d still like/want Saliba to get that contract signed asap though.
Bertie,
Regarding Saliba getting that contract signed, I second your thought on that. 👍