London giants Arsenal are reportedly mulling over offering a new contract to 23-year-old French centre-back William Saliba amid his links with Real Madrid.
According to a report by French outlet Le10 Sport, William Saliba is the subject of interest from Real Madrid. The reigning La Liga champions are keen on landing a long-term central defensive solution, with the Arsenal defender emerging as a target. Meanwhile, the Gunners want to tie the 23-year-old centre-back to a new contract and thwart Los Blancos off his trail.
William Saliba and his Arsenal journey so far
William Saliba has been one of the best defenders in the world in the last two seasons. The Frenchman has been with Arsenal since July 2019 but did not establish a foothold in the first-team squad at the Emirates until the 2022/23 season, with the North London club dispatching him on loan to three French clubs.
The 23-year-old has been a mainstay at the back for Arsenal in the last two seasons, establishing himself as a leadership figure at the North London club. Saliba has turned out nearly 100 times thus far for Arsenal while chipping in with five goals and two assists.
The French defender has also become a regular for his national side, making 23 appearances for Les Bleus in the last two years. Meanwhile, Saliba’s progress at Arsenal has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid.
Real Madrid keen on Saliba
Real Madrid’s interest in William Saliba is understandable. The reigning La Liga champions are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the 2025 summer transfer window, although they will also likely dip their toes in January. However, the summer should witness Real Madrid pursuing a centre-back who can be a long-term solution at the heart of the defence.
Saliba has thus emerged as a viable target, with Los Blancos establishing contact with the Arsenal defender’s entourage. However, the Gunners want to tie him to a new contract instead of risking losing him for a cut-price fee in the coming months.
Saliba will enter the final two years of his contract when the summer transfer window opens next year. So, it will be interesting to see if Arsenal can tie him to a new deal and thwart Real Madrid, forcing Los Blancos to look elsewhere.
