Real Madrid are now scouting a £49million defender from Premier League rivals, which may hand a boost to Arsenal in their hopes of keeping hold of William Saliba in the transfer window.
The Frenchman has been attracting interest after rising through the ranks to become one of the best defenders in the world.
William Saliba has been one half of a steely defence for Arsenal, with fellow centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes playing regularly alongside him.
With just two years remaining on his contract, there has been a growing fear that an exit could be on the cards if a renewal isn’t sealed.
As Real Madrid circle a transfer for William Saliba, there may be some fortune in the Spanish giants looking elsewhere in the market.
Real Madrid scout Dean Huijsen amid William Saliba transfer interest
While Saliba is of interest to Real Madrid, the chances are that they will have to pay a huge fee to land him from Arsenal unless he indicates that a new deal won’t be signed.
So as Los Blancos look to transform their backline further, another Premier League defender is seemingly on their radar.
According to TBR Football, Real Madrid have scouted Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen ahead of a potential switch in the summer.
The 19-year-old joined the Cherries last summer from Juventus and has quickly become a regular in the backline after several injuries.
Some impressive performances from Huijsen have put him on the radar of several clubs, with a £49million release clause in his deal.
If Real Madrid were to trigger a move for the Spanish youth international, then it could well end the chances of Saliba leaving Arsenal.
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What Mikel Arteta said about William Saliba contract situation
Arsenal feel relaxed about Saliba’s potential transfer to Real Madrid, with the club expecting interest in a player of such quality.
While this summer will see his contract enter the final two years, the general mood appears to be one of calm and process.
That is reflected in Mikel Arteta’s statement on the futures of Saliba and Bukayo Saka when asked about the duo.
Speaking to the press ahead of the Nottingham Forest clash, he said: “I’m sure we are very aware of the contractual situation of every player, so they will be dealing with those kind of matters.”
When asked if talks had started, the manager responded: “I don’t know.”
While Arsenal await to appoint their new sporting director, the contracts of Saka and Saliba will be a key talking point.
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