Arsenal Amidst Their Saliba Conundrum
Nothing seems to be going Arsenal’s way in recent weeks. Their biggest dilemma is regarding their premier centre-back, William Saliba. There is a cloud of uncertainty hovering around his future at the club.
William Saliba is entering into the last 2 years of his contract. It becomes particularly concerning as an Arsenal fan when you hear Saliba’s name is reportedly very high in Real Madrid’s wish-list. Saliba returned to Arsenal from France after his third loan spell in 2019. Ever since, he has emerged as a cornerstone of Arsenal’s resurgence.
Every title challenge that Arsenal have mounted has been on the back of a solid defensive foundation at the back. William Saliba, at just 23, has remarkably been a leader of men at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
However, despite his best efforts, Arsenal still remain without silverware. With this ongoing season also ending trophyless, the last thing Arsenal want is to lose their French superstar. But, this possibility has grown stronger in recent weeks.
Arsenal have seen Real Madrid snatch Trent Alexander Arnold from their title rivals Liverpool on a free transfer. Arsenal themselves might face the same fate should they fail to secure Saliba’s signature on a new deal within the next 24 months. Madrid may even look to buy off Saliba at a way cheaper price next year with just 12 months remaining on his contract.
Arsenal set sights on Cristhian Mosquera
All these factors have prompted Arsenal to already start exploring alternatives. A situation may arise where they have to sell Saliba in this upcoming transfer window to secure maximum profit. Although stalwarts like Saliba are extremely difficult to replace, Arsenal have their eyes set on Cristhian Mosquera.
The 20-year-old defender is currently playing for Valencia and has drawn widespread attention from top European clubs. Valencia are believed to be listening to offers worth €20million (£16.9m), while his release clause is around €50m (£42.4m).
Mosquera’s agent is reportedly planning talks with several teams. This could very easily start a bidding war between clubs for the player. If Arsenal are planning to acquire his services, then they may have to act swiftly before it is too late.
Authors Opinion
William Saliba is currently amongst the Mount Rushmore of centre-backs around European Football. His composure on the ball and positioning off it is almost second to none. His presence alone elevates the game level of his defensive partners. If Arsenal do go on to lose Saliba, this would be a tragic blow to their title challenge next season.
🚨NEW
Real Madrid set their sights on Arsenal's William Saliba, aiming to make him the cornerstone of their defense this summer. pic.twitter.com/pYGANi3eSL
— Arsenal Team (@_ArsenalTeam) May 5, 2025
However, if Saliba refuses to sign a new deal this summer, selling him would not be the worst option. This is, of course, from a business profit point of view. With Saliba entering his last year of contract next year, Madrid would rather wait and get him on free.
This isn’t exactly an unchartered territory for Real Madrid. They have constantly used their heritage and signing on bonus fees to lure players on a free transfer. Arsenal would likely aim to avoid falling into this trap.
The young Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera also has his contract expiring in 2026. This certainly makes the asking price relatively lower. Arsenal must take advantage of this if they get any inclination about Saliba’s transfer plans.
Arsenal have already got a plethora of defensive options. This gives them the privilege of easing Mosquera into the squad by giving him steady minutes to shake off any nerves.
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