Real Madrid have been credited with strong interest in William Saliba, but with the Gunners unwilling to part ways with the defender under any circumstances, the transfer is highly unlikely to happen this summer.
However, according to The Athletic, the Spanish giants won’t give up and will simply “bide their time”, waiting, if need be, for the summer of 2026 to make their move. At that point, Saliba will have one year left on his contract, which might force Arsenal not only to accept the prospect of his departure, but to reduce their demands for his services as well.
Real have shown a similar approach in their pursuit of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and it seems to have paid off, with multiple sources claiming the England international will leave Anfield and join Los Blancos as a free agent in a couple of months.
Having initially struggled to impress Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, 24-year-old Saliba has now established himself as a vital piece of the puzzle for the Gunners and one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.
