WILLIAM SALIBA’S SHOCKING REAL MADRID CLAIM SENDS ARSENAL FANS INTO PANIC
Arsenal defender William Saliba admits a move to Real Madrid is "tempting." Despite the interest from Spain, the French star is focused on Arsenal's title charge as the club works to secure him with a new long-term contract.
Arsenal star Saliba flirts with Madrid move in bold statement - Photo Credit: Getty Images
A move to Real Madrid is "tempting," according to Arsenal defender William Saliba, but for now, he is focused on the Gunners' championship run.
The Gunners' 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday solidified their position at the top of the Premier League standings, demonstrating their outstanding form thus far this season.
Arsenal's defence has only conceded three goals in 10 Premier League games, which is one of the primary reasons they are performing so well, aside from set pieces.
Along with full-backs Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber, Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have established one of the greatest central defensive tandems in the world.
Other teams show interest in Saliba when he performs well, and rumours suggest that Real Madrid hopes to sign him soon.
Although the Frenchman is on Real Madrid's radar, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano maintained in September that Arsenal was making good headway with contract negotiations.
On his YouTube channel, Romano stated: "The new contract negotiations are going really well. We are doing great. This is a really encouraging message for the athletes who wish to stay. Mikel Arteta is therefore quite certain that Arsenal will expand the substance of William Saliba and Bukayo Saka. Since the discourse is already going really well for Saka, I believe Saliba will be the main focus. I do not think it will be very difficult for Arsenal to extend this contract.
For Saliba, William. Real Madrid is obviously the subject of ongoing rumours. According to what I have been told, Arsenal has recently improved. It is not today or yesterday, but let us state that Arsenal made a significant offer to William Saliba in the last few weeks.
Arsenal wants to give him a longer deal. Arsenal wants Saliba to feel like a vital component of a large, ambitious project in which the team is accomplishing something truly unique. Thus, Arsenal is attempting to get William Saliba's approval not only from the financial party but also from the player himself in order to offer him a leadership position.
Because they wanted to avoid going into 2026 with William Saliba still having one year left on his contract, Arsenal is doing everything in its power to finish it as quickly as possible. Thus, this is Arsenal's hope. This is the story's pivotal moment. Real Madrid, then. How about Real Madrid?
"A lot of you inquire about Real Madrid, who undoubtedly have William Saliba on their roster. Think about William Saliba, Real Madrid. The Jude Bellingham of the defenders is something unique for the present and the future, as I always tell you and uphold.
But since the ball is in Arsenal's court right now, Real Madrid is obviously powerless to do anything. Arsenal is discussing a new deal. Arsenal is making every effort to retain their defender after improving their offer to William Saliba. We must wait and observe the situation.
Real Madrid will be closely monitoring the situation, and either Saliba will continue to communicate with Arsenal or Real Madrid will pay special attention to it. This is the story, then. Arsenal, however, has a match point. Saliba and Arsenal are negotiating, and Arsenal is working on improving its bid.
Saliba's recent remarks, in which the France international insisted that a move to Real Madrid is "always enticing," may have alarmed Arsenal supporters a little.
In an interview with Telefoot, the centre-back for Arsenal acknowledged: "Obviously, it is always enticing when a club like them shows interest." But before considering anything else, I wanted to stay at Arsenal and win titles.
Better yet, Saliba said, "No, no, no," in response to the question of whether he may follow former AS Bondy teammate Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid in 2026. The French national team currently has a Bondy link.
HARRY KANE REACTS TO REPORTS LINKING HIM WITH BARCELONA TRANSFER
Barcelona is eyeing Harry Kane as a potential replacement for the departing Robert Lewandowski. However, the striker's high wage demands could scupper any move due to the club's ongoing financial constraints.
Kane finally addresses potential 2026 transfer rumours - COURTESY/PHOTO
Given that Robert Lewandowski will most likely leave when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign, Barcelona plans to acquire a new striker next summer. Harry Kane is one of the candidates they have been connected to; this might be a rerun of the transfer they made for his potential successors in 2022.
Barcelona has had great success with its decision to sign Lewandowski. Instead of acquiring a younger player who might be the team's starting striker for many years to come, they might decide to bring in another well-known name, and Kane would be the perfect addition in this case.
Barcelona is aware of the exact amount they would have to spend to get Kane because his Bayern Munich contract includes a €65 million release clause. Sport claims that although the England international is aware of Catalonia's interest, he will not decide on his future until the end of the current campaign.
Barcelona's move would be doubtful due to Kane's demands.
Even though Kane has not decided yet, Barcelona might have already moved on by the time he does. He is reportedly demanding a high salary, probably comparable to the €25 million (gross) he presently makes at Bayern, which the Catalans may find difficult to match given their well-known financial difficulties.
Given that Kane is now among the top nine in the world of football, there is little question that he would be the best striker Barcelona could buy next summer. However, if his wage demands remain the same for when the transfer window opens next summer, it would not be financially prudent.
XABI ALONSO OFFER COULD HAVE LURED FLORIAN WIRTZ TO REAL MADRID
Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro reveals the club was willing to break its salary cap in a desperate attempt to keep Florian Wirtz, but the star's Champions League ambition led to his departure, not a move to Bayern Munich.
Florian Wirtz - Photo Credit: Getty Images
In a frantic attempt to keep Wirtz at the club, Carro also disclosed that Leverkusen had been prepared to blow through its salary cap. He implied that an extension would eventually be signed, but acknowledged the German team had harassed him too much.
He continued, "The Wirtz family and Florian knew that our primary objective was extending their contracts." "We handled pay throughout the summer moves with extreme caution.
However, we would have been willing to grant Florian an exception.
"Undoubtedly, in a range that has never been witnessed by Bayer Leverkusen. In order to extend the contract, we were willing to go above and beyond.
And it appeared as though it would work out for a time. I am aware that we occasionally bothered him excessively. However, although his parents serve as his advisors, Florian ultimately made his own decisions, and I believe it is admirable that they totally honour his desires."
Carro said that one of the main reasons Wirtz left Leverkusen was his ambition to win the Champions League, and he confirmed that the midfielder never made a deal with Bayern Munich, despite what was said at the time.
He remarked, "I do not think that was ever true (regarding Bayern)." "Papa Wirtz informed us that "it is not correct."
"Winning the Champions League is something he aspires to. We believed we could have accomplished more with this crew than we really did. He noticed that we had won the German title, but it might be harder to win the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen.
In a frantic attempt to keep Wirtz at the club, Carro also disclosed that Leverkusen had been prepared to blow through its salary cap. He implied that an extension would eventually be signed, but acknowledged the German team had harassed him too much.
He continued, "The Wirtz family and Florian knew that our primary objective was extending their contracts." "We handled pay throughout the summer moves with extreme caution.
However, we would have been willing to grant Florian an exception.
"Undoubtedly, in a range that has never been witnessed by Bayer Leverkusen. In order to extend the contract, we were willing to go above and beyond.
And it appeared as though it would work out for a time. I am aware that we occasionally bothered him excessively. However, although his parents serve as his advisors, Florian ultimately made his own decisions, and I believe it is admirable that they totally honour his desires."
Carro said that one of the main reasons Wirtz left Leverkusen was his ambition to win the Champions League, and he confirmed that the midfielder never made a deal with Bayern Munich, despite what was said at the time.
He remarked, "I do not think that was ever true (regarding Bayern)." "Papa Wirtz informed us that "it is not correct."
"Winning the Champions League is something he aspires to. We believed we could have accomplished more with this crew than we really did. He noticed that we had won the German title, but it might be harder to win the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen.