William Saliba’s rising value attracts European giants
William Saliba, meanwhile, has become one of the most reliable defenders in Europe, drawing the interest of several top clubs. He was a man Real Madrid have been tracking for months, after the club’s technical team were impressed by his strength, composure and range of passing. According to reports, they view him as a long-term project that will solidify their defensive nucleus and, in time, replace the likes of David Alaba.
But the shift now is running up against a big hurdle — wage demands. The agents of Saliba are seeking a salary which puts him in the upper echelons. Los Blancos have seen the numbers, and they are worried. The club has a strict wage structure and rarely breaks it, even if a high-profile name.
Compounding the issue, Saliba remains under contract at Arsenal until June 2027, having signed an extension last year. The club rates him highly and has no desire to lose him. Mikel Arteta considers Saliba a key player in Arsenal’s title-challenging puzzle and the board agrees. He has emerged as a leader from the back and plays with an maturity well beyond his years.
Arsenal are building to long-term success, meanwhile, Real Madrid are in transition. While they’ve remade their midfield with young stars, their defense remains in need of reinforcements. William Saliba ticks every box for Los Blancos, yet the financial demands could be too high for them, especially if other names stay on their shortlist.
Arsenal stand firm as William Saliba expresses commitment
Arsenal are well aware of the increasing interest surrounding their star defender. This stance is emphatically clear from the club — William Saliba is not for sale. Their message to any potential suitors — be it Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, or Bayern Munich — is straightforward: unless a spend-up record bid arrives, the Frenchman remains in London.
What only augments the stance Arsenal find themselves in is Saliba’s attitude itself. The 23-year-old has recently claimed he is happy at Arsenal in interviews. He has signaled that he is dedicated to helping the club win major trophies. His belief in the project, and close relationship with Mikel Arteta, has seen him willing to stay.
The club has already moved behind the scenes to secure his future. Top sources have also stated that Saliba will be presented with a renewed contract in the upcoming months, which should reflect on Arsenal’s current efforts to retain him and repel interest from other clubs. The offer would put him in the ballpark of the club’s highest earners but still in line with its wage structure.
Other suitors will be watching the situation, too, and will have to do more than just meet Arsenal’s financial terms if they hope to persuade Saliba to leave a club he currently feels loyalty toward. That is, as matters currently are, extremely unlikely.
Author’s opinion
William Saliba possesses every trait a modern-day defender requires. It is little wonder that Real Madrid and others are hovering. He reads the game well, is physically dominant and rarely makes errors under pressure. From a sporting standpoint, he would improve just about every top team in Europe.
That being said, whatever wages are being discussed in connection with his name are pretty understandable but also dangerous for any club. If Madrid goes ahead, it will have to revisit its wage hierarchy — something it rarely does. Arsenal, in contrast, are well poised. They don’t have to sell, and their player is not agitating for a transfer.
From a neutral perspective, this feels like one where there might be interest but inactivity. Short of an abrupt change in Arsenal’s attitude or Madrid breaking their own financial guidelines, this transfer is likely never getting beyond the speculative phase.
So while the party won’t stop over William Saliba anytime soon, a move this summer currently seems remote. And as Arsenal fans should be glad about — their defensive mainstay will not be going anywhere at least for now.
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