Real Madrid’s interest in William Saliba is really concerning for Arsenal fans.
The Frenchman is arguably the best defender in the world right now. He has been unbelievable for club and country and is one of the biggest reasons why the Gunners are title contenders.
Saliba played every minute of the 2023/24 Premier League season and he barely put a foot wrong all campaign. He is a Rolls-Royce defender, and every club in the world would love to have him.
However, Arsenal will not make it easy for anyone to lure him away from the Emirates.
Arsenal want Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni in exchange for William Saliba
Arsenal signed Saliba from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2019.
The Frenchman had to wait three full years before he could make his competitive debut for the Gunners, but he has been irreplaceable since.
That has made him a very attractive player, and Arsenal Insider exclusively revealed recently that Real Madrid are keeping an eye on Saliba.
The Galacticos are looking for reinforcements at the back, and everyone will agree that Saliba is good enough to play for them.
Defensa Central have now had their say on the transfer link, and they claim that ‘Arsenal and Real Madrid will soon fight for Saliba’.
The report adds that the Gunners will not make it easy for the Champions League winners if they want to sign the French defender – they will demand a player in exchange.
That man is Aurelien Tchouameni, who joined Real Madrid from Monaco in a €100 million (£84m) deal back in the summer of 2022 (Guardian).
It has been claimed that Mikel Arteta is ‘crazy’ about Tchouameni and Real Madrid are aware that Arsenal will demand the Frenchman in a swap deal if they try to sign Saliba.
However, as things stand, Real Madrid have no interest in letting Tchouameni go.
READ MORE: The ‘crazy money’ Arsenal will demand for William Saliba amid ‘strong interest’ from Real Madrid
Arsenal need to accept one thing about William Saliba
Saliba is still only 23 years old and he has at least a decade left at the top level.
The Frenchman is already among the best centre-backs on the planet, and there’s absolutely no doubt in our minds that he will become even better in the coming years.
Real Madrid almost always get the players they really want, and we think Arsenal fans should accept that there is a chance Saliba will swap the Emirates for the Santiago Bernabeu at some point.
For now, though, Arsenal should focus on extending Saliba’s contract and protecting his future for as long as they possibly can.
By doing that, they will be able to get huge money whenever Real Madrid decide to make their move to sign the former Marseille man.
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