Arsenal have suffered a major setback regarding the future of star defender William Saliba, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
On Wednesday evening, the Gunners were eliminated from the Carabao Cup after suffering their second consecutive 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the semi-finals.
Although Arsenal’s failure to score over 180 minutes ultimately led to their exit, much of the blame for Wednesday’s loss was directed at Saliba.
Despite this, fans now have another reason to worry, as a new report suggests that one of the world’s biggest clubs is eager to secure a deal for the French centre-back, who plays a crucial role in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
According to French journalist Fabrice Hawkins, while Real Madrid remains uncertain about the future of their attack, they are certain about wanting Saliba to lead their defense.
Hawkins claims that Arsenal will be highly reluctant to let the 23-year-old leave, as they consider him the best centre-back in the world. If they were to consider a transfer, it would likely require a record-breaking fee.
Reports suggest that the London club would only entertain an offer if it surpasses the current record transfer fee for a defender—Harry Maguire’s £80m (€97m) move from Leicester City to Manchester United in 2019.
After spending three years on loan in France, Saliba returned to Arsenal in 2022 and quickly became the backbone of their defense, starting nearly every match when fit.
Reflecting on his return, Mikel Arteta shared in 2023:
“For the first week, I didn’t speak to him. I wanted to observe—without influencing his thoughts—how he carried himself. That way, I could understand the real him.
“He made an instant impact. After the first two training sessions, we thought, ‘This guy has immense potential.’
“He erased every doubt we had and gave us every reason to trust him. Since then, he’s been outstanding.”
Since his return, Saliba has made 116 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions.
Leave a Reply