William Saliba is unlikely to move to Real Madrid imminently, and a potential future move will hinge on his contract situation, according to a report.
James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that an imminent move for William Saliba to join Real Madrid is unlikely, with the price Arsenal would demand probably putting him out of reach even in the Spanish capital.
Instead, Real Madrid are hoping Arsenal won’t be able to extend Saliba’s contract, allowing him to leave for a lower fee next summer or for free in 2027.
But whilst Arsenal are aware of the interest from Madrid, McNicholas adds that the Gunners remain confident they’ll be able to extend Saliba’s contract once again.
Fabrizio Romano recently reported that he doesn’t expect any major movements for Saliba this summer, with sporting director Andrea Berta set to work on a new contract for the defender instead.
Romano claims Real Madrid consider Saliba the “Bellingham of defenders”, but for now, they’re just following his situation.
Arsenal will have their chance to extend the defender’s contract, and Saliba is sending very positive messages on that front. The Gunners certainly aren’t expected to entertain a summer sale.
Arsenal centre-back Saliba remains a key player for the club in 2024/25, playing 43 times and starting 42 of those matches. The one time he came off the bench was the League Cup quarter-final, with Arsenal 1-0 down at half-time.
As mentioned, Saliba’s current deal in north London lasts until 2027. At 23 years old, Arsenal will want to keep him around for quite a lot longer.