Real Madrid have held talks with the representatives of an Arsenal ace who cannot wait to play alongside Kylian Mbappe, though the Gunners will ensure they receive a record-breaking fee, according to a report.
The bulk of Arsenal’s strongest starting XI are either in the prime of their careers or have their best years still to come.
One player who has already reached superstar status despite being just 23 years of age is centre-back William Saliba.
Alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, the duo have combined to form one of the strongest centre-back pairings in recent Premier League history.
However, Real Madrid – known to be on the hunt for a top tier centre-half who can make an instant impact next season – could torpedo Arsenal’s project.
And worryingly for Arsenal, the report claimed talks with Saliba’s camp have already taken place regarding a summer switch.
Furthermore, it’s then stated Saliba ‘considers the Madrid club as the ultimate dream of his career, and the prospect of playing with his friend Kylian Mbappe, also from Bondy (an area of Paris), is a strong argument in his thinking.’
Arsenal value their star man at an even £100m. A move at that price point would obliterate the record for the most expensive defender transfer of all time.
The current record is still held by Harry Maguire via his £80m switch from Leicester to Manchester United in 2019. At £100m, Saliba’s potential deal would add an extra £20m to the record.
On the subject of whether Real Madrid would actually be willing to pay such an amount, the report claimed the LaLiga giant are well aware signing a player of Saliba’s calibre won’t come cheaply.
