William Saliba to Barcelona: Arsenal set £128m price tag
William Saliba to Barcelona: Arsenal aren’t playing games here. They’ve told suitors exactly what it takes to get William Saliba on a plane, and the number is staggering. According to Caught Offside, the Gunners want €150m (£128m) before they’ll even think about picking up the telephone. Barcelona are sniffing around the 25-year-old France international, but the north London club have made their stance crystal clear. No massive offer, no chat. Simple as that.
Industry insiders say Camp Nou chiefs are monitoring the situation closely. They aren’t the only ones, either. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are keeping a close watch on the defender.
Paying that much money for a centre-back sounds completely daft, but look at what he did last season. Saliba was the rock that helped Arsenal win their first Premier League title in 21 years. He played 2,615 minutes in 31 league games and helped the side keep 16 clean sheets. When he was on the pitch, Arsenal only let in a goal every 163 minutes. That is elite defending. Mikel Arteta knows he has a special player, which is exactly why the club handed him a new contract until 2030. (Via Football365)
The reality of Barcelona’s bank balance
Can the Catalan giants actually afford this? It looks highly unlikely. Barcelona have already splashed serious cash this summer, shelling out £69.3m (€80m) to bring Anthony Gordon over from Newcastle.
They also desperately need a new striker. Robert Lewandowski needs replacing, and the club have been chasing Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez to fill that void. Spending another £128m on a defender when the attack needs urgent work makes no sense. Even with LaLiga easing up on their spending rules, the money isn’t endless. Real Madrid and PSG have the cash, but neither have made a proper move yet. It feels like typical transfer window gossip.
Read: Report – Arsenal preparing transfer offer for World Cup teenage sensation
Saliba showed everyone how good he is at the 2026 World Cup, putting in top performances for France, including a brilliant game against Sweden. He has size, pace, and calm nerves. But Arsenal hold all the power. They built a championship team around him and don’t need to sell a single player.
More Arsenal Stories from Scorzo