Real Madrid are rumoured to be admirers of Arsenal defender William Saliba.
The Frenchman has been consistently superb since his emergence in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign.
Mikel Arteta has seen first-hand just how vital Saliba’s presence is to his squad, as the centre-back continues to perform at the highest of levels.
As a result, it’s rumoured that Real Madrid see the Arsenal defender as a possible transfer target for the future.
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Arsenal stance on Real Madrid’s transfer interest in William Saliba
It’s no secret that Real Madrid admire Saliba, which is equally a scenario that doesn’t come as a surprise considering the centre-back’s calibre.
Talk linking the club and the player has grown louder in recent weeks, with Real Madrid making contact with Saliba’s representatives.
The Galacticos are understood to see Arteta’s star central defender as a priority target, but that doesn’t seem to have alarmed the Gunners.
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As reported by CaughtOffside, Arsenal ‘remain relaxed’ over talk of the 23-year-old’s future, with the player having a similar stance.
The site’s sources understand that Saliba is ‘happy’ being part of Arteta’s project and remains ‘fully focused’ on achieving his goals at the Emirates.
There’s nothing to indicate that Real Madrid have made concrete progress in their bid to one day sign the Frenchman, who remains a crucial part of the journey to silverware in North London.
Mikel Arteta will not want to lose Saliba
When assessing Arteta’s favoured XI at Arsenal, Saliba is arguably the most important cog in the machine.
The manager has seen just how important the centre-back is to the back line, with his absence during the 2022/23 campaign causing the Gunners’ title hopes to crumble.
Aside from the importance of having Saliba at the club, Arsenal will be aware of the player’s value and the fact that the project Arteta is building is not to be seen as a stepping stone.
In many instances in the past, key players have endeavoured on more ‘attractive’ journeys with rival clubs, which is a scenario that has been ousted in recent years.
Arsenal’s stance on Real Madrid’s reported interest is something that fans will be relieved to hear, with the idea of losing Saliba something of a nightmare.
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