Real Madrid eye world record fee for Arsenal's William Saliba

According to reports from the Spanish outlet AS, the La Liga giants have identified Saliba as their priority target for the center-back position.

The 23-year-old has reportedly passed all of Real Madrid's checks and assessments, leading to a structured plan to secure his signature.

The current world record transfer fee for a defender stands at 80 million pounds, set by Manchester United when they signed Harry Maguire. However, Real Madrid are prepared to surpass this figure, potentially establishing a new benchmark with an offer around 100 million euros for Saliba.

This substantial bid is aimed not only at Arsenal but at convincing Saliba of his value and desirability in Madrid.

Real Madrid's interest in bolstering their defence doesn't stop with Saliba. The club are also keen on securing Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, prioritizing him irrespective of his position, and are hopeful of signing Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies as a new left-back, although negotiations with the Canadian are ongoing.

The presence of a strong French contingent at Real Madrid, including international teammates like Ferland Mendy, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Kylian Mbappe, could play a role in persuading Saliba to consider a move.

However, Arsenal have no intention of letting go of one of their key assets. Saliba, who has formed a formidable partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, was instrumental in Arsenal achieving the best defensive record in the Premier League last season, conceding only 29 goals.

This season, Arsenal are again among the league's best defences, matching Liverpool's 17 goals conceded, despite having played one additional game.

Saliba's commitment to Arsenal seems unwavering. In comments reported by The Sun, he expressed his contentment at the club, stating, "I feel at home here (at Arsenal). I signed for the club five years ago but it's only my third season and I'm enjoying everything, the players, staff and fans." His contract runs until the summer of 2027, giving Arsenal a comfortable position regarding any transfer speculation.

Meanwhile, in other transfer news, Arsenal are rumoured to be interested in securing Manchester United's Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal.

However, the transfer would require both Rashford to accept a less prominent role in the squad and Manchester United to agree to a significantly reduced fee, with Arsenal reportedly only willing to offer 25 million pounds against United's expectation of 50 to 60 million pounds.

This transfer window could see substantial movements if Real Madrid's plans come to fruition, but for now, Arsenal's defensive core, led by Saliba, remains a tough nut to crack.

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