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Reports indicate that Real Madrid is preparing to submit a summer offer for Arsenal defender William Saliba. However, the Gunners will only entertain the prospect of a sale if they receive a world-record transfer fee for a defender.

Saliba, a pivotal component of Arsenal’s defensive lineup, has played a crucial role in their pursuit of the Premier League title for the third consecutive season. Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta’s team presently lags behind the league champions, Liverpool, by six points, with the Reds possessing a match in hand against Everton scheduled for Wednesday. A triumph for Arne Slot’s team would augment their advantage to nine points, with 14 matches still to be contested.

Since he was appointed manager of Arsenal in December 2019, Arteta has significantly converted the team into a formidable entity, with defensive solidity serving as the cornerstone of their success. The partnership between Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães is widely esteemed as one of the most exceptional in global football, rendering it a principal objective for Madrid’s ambitious transfer initiatives.

As reported by the Daily Star, Arsenal will only consider proposals for Saliba that exceed the existing world-record transfer fee for a defender, which stands at £77.6 million—the amount Manchester City disbursed for Josko Gvardiol in the summer of 2023.Arsenal acknowledges that the Gunners will require an extraordinary sum of £150 million to relinquish the 23-year-old player, who has three years remaining on his contract.

Real Madrid possesses a rich history of notable ‘Galactico’ acquisitions, having successfully signed illustrious players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and more recently, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. Although RMC Sport affirms that Madrid is monitoring Saliba, the likelihood of a transaction seems minimal, as Arsenal is notably averse to parting with him.

Despite receiving a record-breaking proposal from Real Madrid, Arsenal may remain steadfast in their decision not to sell, as Saliba is regarded as essential to their long-term strategic objectives. The North London club is anticipated to advocate for a contract extension, thereby securing the continued presence of the French international as a pivotal player beyond the expiration of his current agreement in 2027.