Arsenal face growing interest in William Saliba, but the message from north London remains clear: the French centre-back is not for sale unless a special offer arrives.
The 25-year-old has become one of the most important players in Mikel Arteta’s side, developing into a calm, dominant and reliable presence at the heart of defence.
His partnership with Gabriel Magalhães has been at the heart of Arsenal’s rise, with the club now seeing him as one of the pillars of their long-term project.
This was revealed by a person close to the agent industry. catch off side Barcelona are said to be monitoring Saliba, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also monitoring the situation.
However, Arsenal are reluctant to even consider negotiations unless the offer reaches around 150 million euros.
Barcelona’s interest faces huge financial hurdles
Arsenal are in a strong position. Saliba signed a new long-term contract last year, with Sky Sports reporting that the deal will run until the summer of 2030.
This gives Arsenal the initiative and removes any immediate pressure to sell.
From a soccer perspective, Barcelona’s interest makes sense. They need a long-term defensive leader and Saliba fits the profile of a modern centre-back perfectly.
He is calm on the ball, strong in duels, quick enough to defend high spaces, and mature beyond his years.
But the financial side is much more complex. Barcelona have had to manage their salary structure carefully in recent years and it would be very difficult to pay 150 million euros for a defender.
Real Madrid and PSG may have more flexibility, but Arsenal’s stance is designed to scare all three clubs.
Arsenal must refuse unless they receive an outrageous offer
Arsenal should not sell Saliba this summer unless the offer cannot be ignored.
World-class centre-backs are incredibly difficult to find, but Saliba is already one of the best centre-backs in Europe.
More importantly, he’s in his prime.
Selling him now would weaken Arsenal in an area where stability is paramount.
A €150 million bid is a huge amount, but the money will only come in handy if Arsenal can replace him properly.
Few defenders have Saliba’s size, composure, speed and technical quality.
Interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG is welcome, but Arsenal should treat it as proof of his worth rather than a reason to sell. Retaining Saliba would send a stronger message than cashing in.
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