- 11 hours ago
Arsenal linked with WORLD RECORD transfer as ‘absolute priority’ revealed
Robin Bairner
- 7 Feb 2025 07:42 GMT
- 3 min read
Real Madrid have already plotted their perfect summer transfer window, with William Saliba firmly in the viewfinder of the Bernabeu side.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are set for a blockbuster transformation that could well be fuelled by Vinicius Junior’s exit to the Saudi Pro League.
READ MORE: 'Arsenal WILL sign Harry Kane'
STATS
William Saliba
D (C)
William Saliba
D (C)
Arsenal
Not only could the Brazilian’s exit clear space in attack for Kylian Mbappe to operate in his preferred left-wing role, but the sale could also fund Real Madrid’s transfer plans to the tune of over €220 million, with his sale potentially generating a record fee.
The Bernabeu side have already missed out on Alphonso Davies, who has completed a U-turn by signing a new contract with Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid have already made plans for the summer, with Arsenal centre-back Saliba their “absolute priority”, according to RMC.
The French source does not expect Arsenal to sell Saliba readily as they consider him to be the best centre-back in the world.
Indeed, the Gunners are set to demand a fee that will make him “the most expensive defender in history”.
READ MORE: Premier League January transfers 2025: All the Done Deals
Saliba to become the first €100m defender?
Currently, the biggest transfer fee commanded by a defender is Josko Gvardiol’s €90m move from RB Leipzig to Manchester City in 2023.
This eclipsed the figure set by Harry Maguire when he moved to Manchester United in 2019 for €87m.
Saliba’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) is set at €79.5m, though the top end of our estimate hits €100m, which is surely the minimum that Real Madrid will have to pay if they are to lure the France international centre-back away from the Emirates Stadium in the summer.
One consideration that Arsenal will have to make is that Saliba’s contract expires in 2027. While that does not put any immediate pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side to sell, the centre-back’s value will start to diminish in the final 18 months of his contract.
Meanwhile, a record sale could help fuel Arsenal’s bid to sign a leading striker such as Benjamin Sesko, which is the Gunners’ summer aim.
