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Real Madrid are reportedly considering a swoop for Arsenal star William Saliba - could Arsenal profit too?
Two absolute titans of European football will collide in the Champions League quarter-final when Arsenal face off against reigning champions Real Madrid in one of most highly-anticipated matches of the contest so far.
Madrid are the most successful team in Champions League history with 15 titles, with their most recent coming in the final against Borussia Dortmund last season. Meanwhile, Arsenal, barring the UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup of 1994 and the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (the predecessor to the UEFA Cup) have never previously been European champions though they did reach the final of the competition back in 2006 and the semi-final in 2009.
The Gunners are essentially in a position where they will have to put their eggs in one basket after falling short in the League Cup semi-final, FA Cup third round and most notably the Premier League where their lack of a 20-goal striker and injuries to Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have left them trailing Liverpool by 12 points in the league.
Arsenal, were however, able to turn their goalscoring boots on for the game against PSV Eindhoven - and after scoring 10 across two games against the Dutch side, will have some hope that they can topple a Madrid side that they beat 1-0 on aggregate in their only previous competitive meeting in the round-of-16 back in 2006.
Madrid are a team with a history of always finding a way and despite a poor showing against rivals Atletico were able to controversially make the last eight when a late Julian Alvarez penalty was ruled out for an apparent two touch. This even by Real’s standards was an exceptional piece of luck to keep their hopes alive.
Real Madrid plot move for Arsenal defender
Real Madrid still boast one of the finest teams in world football but their defensive prowess in certain instances has led to scepticism over whether the team can win the Champions League and Spanish league title once again by some corners of the Spanish media.
Notable examples such as the 4-0 loss to Barcelona in La Liga, a 5-2 loss to the same opponents in the Supercopa de Espana, a 2-0 loss to Liverpool and a 1-0 loss to Lille are also examples of the team at times struggling at the back. In fact, Madrid have kept just eight clean sheets in 24 in La Liga this term and in Europe have only managed one in 10 games.
This has led to reports from The Mirror that Real Madrid could be lining up a blockbuster move for Arsenal star William Saliba, who has two years remaining on his contract at the Emirates.
Saliba is viewed as one of the best defenders in world football and he’s a central part of an Arsenal side which have kept a joint best 13 clean sheets while only conceding 24 in 29 matches (a league best).
Arsenal’s clean sheet record in Europe is also among the best (6) and the Frenchman has been central to that record with his immense strength, leadership and pace to nullify some of Europe’s most potent finishers.
The intriguing swap deal that Arsenal could look to strike with Real Madrid
No Arsenal fan on the planet will want to lose William Saliba as he is quite simply alongside Virgil van Dijk one of the very best at what he does in the Premier League.However, as champions elect Liverpool have already learned with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid are a team with unique pulling power and if Arsenal can’t tie Saliba down to a new deal in the near future, it may be worth earning a blockbuster fee rather than losing him on a free.
Similarly, Arsenal could look to try and use the situation to their advantage as they look to finally fill the goalscoring void that has haunted them this season. To call it a big gamble would be an understatement but one potential wonderkid who Arsenal could look to try and prise away from the Spanish capital as part of the Saliba deal could be out-of-favour forward Endrick.
The 18-year-old Brazil international, dubbed one of the best young players in world football by many in the game, with ESPN notably comparing him to Pele and Ronaldo, is reportedly getting frustrated at his lack of game time, just months after linking up with Real Madrid for £50m after his move from Palmeiras was made official.
Endrick already has 14 caps for Brazil, with three goals including one against England - and has shown glimpses of quality at Madrid with six goals in 28 matches across all competitions. However, he is struggling to get regular starts ahead of 26-year-old Kylian Mbappe, who has hit 30 goals in 42 games since leaving PSG, as well as countrymen Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo who both remain the main options in wide attack.
With Havertz being a natural midfielder at Arsenal and Jesus being out until December, it seems likely that Endrick would play almost every game if he was to join the Emirates side in a huge boost to his hopes of starting in the 2026 World Cup. This is of course, isn’t a plan any Arsenal would commit to due to Saliba’s importance in the team, particularly given Endrick’s lack of experience, but it could be a gamble worth taking for the North London side with some cash incentive coming their way if the Frenchman’s head is turned by the Spanish champions.
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