Arsenal make huge demand as Real Madrid plot William Saliba transfer

Real Madrid view the signing of William Saliba as an ‘absolute priority’ this summer – but Arsenal have made a huge demand in response to the transfer speculation.

Saliba has emerged as one of the best defenders in the Premier League over the past three seasons, barely missing a game for an Arsenal team involved in three successive title challenges.

Arsenal boasted the best defensive record in the English top-flight last season – conceding just 29 goals in 38 league games – and much of that was due to the impressive centre-back partnership of Saliba and Gabriel.

Saliba’s development into a world-class defender comes after an intriguingly slow start to his Arsenal career in which he spent three seasons out on loan after being signed for £27m.

The 23-year-old’s form in north London has led to international recognition for France – he has earned 26 caps since 2022 – and speculation linking him with arguably the biggest club in the world.

Real Madrid have long been linked with a move for Saliba and RMC Sport claim the La Liga giants are not only targeting a summer deal but have made the Frenchman an ‘absolute priority’.

But Arsenal are not expecting to lose Saliba, who they reportedly consider ‘the best centre-back in the world’, and would demand a staggeringly huge price for any potential transfer.

Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol and Manchester United’s Harry Maguire are the two most-expensive defenders in history at just under £80m but Arsenal will demand an even greater fee for Saliba.

Saliba has hardly put a foot wrong for title-chasing Arsenal but struggled to contain Alexander Isak during the Gunners’ Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United.

‘Gabriel and William Saliba could not deal with Alexander Isak at all – he had them rattled,’ former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara told Grosvenor Sport.

‘Arsenal were all over the place. That is the first time I’ve ever seen them like that and they’re probably the best defensive partnership in the world now, which just shows how good Isak is.’

Speaking after reaching yet another Carabao Cup final following their 2023 defeat to Manchester United, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe revealed his team targeted Saliba and Gabriel.

‘We wanted to get pressure on them [Saliba and Gabriel] and in order to do that we had to get bodies in the right areas and press high – that is how we decided to do it,’ he said.

You know you are playing against elite players and one mistake can make things difficult. We had to be ourselves, be front foot. If not then it can quickly be 1-0 and 2-0 and then you are on the back foot.’

Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Ian Wright recently suggested Saliba and the club’s other world-class players could leave if they go another season without winning a trophy.

‘We have to start thinking about about Gabriel [Magalhaes], [William] Saliba and Saka,’ he said on his Wrighty’s House podcast. ‘After this season, they’ve got two years left.

‘Even if Arsenal say to you, “listen we want to start talking to you”, with a World Cup coming, managers and agents are going to say, “we just want to focus on our game now, trying to make sure we’re in great form for the World Cup”.

‘Those guys are going to be into the last year. We’re going to have a situation like Liverpool have got now.

‘How long before their management teams say, “we need to see the ambition of this club”? Do any of those players want to end up not winning anything because the way it’s going at the moment…’

Arsenal have the weekend off following their FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United before returning to Premier League action on February 15 against struggling Leicester City.

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