Arsenal are at serious risk of losing one of their best players in the summer.
The Gunners have managed to keep the core of their exciting young squad together in recent years, only selling players who were surplus to requirements.
However, Newcastle eased past Arsenal last week, meaning the club are staring at the prospect of enduring another trophyless season, potentially prompting key players to consider their futures at the Emirates.
The Champions League and the Premier League are still there to compete for, although both are relatively unlikely triumphs for Mikel Arteta’s team at this point.
William Saliba has been linked with Real Madrid, and it appears developments are starting to ensue on this front.
Arsenal set William Saliba asking price as his thoughts on Real Madrid are revealed
Saliba produced a dismal display against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup last week, with the Frenchman evidently rattled by a buoyant St. James Park.
However, this performance was something of an anomaly on the centre-back’s CV, as he’s been nothing short of exceptional in an Arsenal shirt this season.
His form has inevitably sparked interest from elsewhere, with Real Madrid’s presence well documented.
According to Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Los Blancos have identified Saliba as a priority target for the summer.
However, Arsenal have set an excessive asking price of £100 million for the imperious defender, and are unlikely to budge on this figure.
Initial talks have taken place between the 23-year-old’s representatives and the Spanish giants, who believe they have the player on board.
Saliba failed to rule out signing for Real Madrid when asked by a fan in Dubai on Monday, sparking concern in the Arsenal fabase.
The Gunners faithful will be even more fearful after Tavolieri’s report, which suggests that the Madrid club is the ‘ultimate dream’ of his career.
The former Marseille loanee is excited at the prospect of playing alongside friend and fellow Bondy native Kylian Mbappe.
Arsenal need to offer Saliba a lucrative new contract
Just because Real Madrid have come calling, doesn’t mean all hope is lost for Arsenal.
There is a chance these reports have surfaced as a means of Saliba negotiating a new lucrative contract at the Emirates.
That’s exactly what the Gunners should be looking to offer their prized asset, and they have the room to do so.
Saliba is currently earning a purported £190,000-a-week in N5, less than Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Bukayo Saka.
This realistically doesn’t reflect his importance within the squad, and Arsenal could easily bump him up to the £250,000-a-week mark without breaking their wage structure.
Partey is expected to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, meaning the North London club would essentially be substituting one of their top earners for a player more deserving of this wage.
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