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News
- 28 minutes ago
Why Arsenal are BEGGING for €40m Liverpool ‘DEAL AGREED’ rumour to be true
Robin Bairner
- 11 Sept 2025 07:30 BST
- 4 min read
Analysis
One of the most important transfer deals for Arsenal over the next 12 months may involve head coach Mikel Arteta or sporting director Andrea Berta – and it might even already have been struck.
Over the course of six painstaking years, the Gunners have been slowly building a team for Arteta that is capable of winning the Premier League title.
Arsenal’s work during the summer 2025 transfer window may just have been the climax of that. No club in world football had a bigger net spend than the North London outfit, who are now expected to come good on that promise by winning the Premier League title.
Current ETV
William Saliba
D (C)
Arsenal
William Saliba
D (C)
Arsenal
ETV Range
€57.9M - €96.5M
Much of Arteta’s work has centred around signing young players and refining them into world-class stars. William Saliba is the blueprint. He arrived as an 18-year-old from Saint-Etienne and spent three years out on loan before returning to the Emirates and developing into one of the best centre-backs in the world.
But the future of the Frenchman hangs in the balance. Out of contract in 2027, Real Madrid have set covetous eyes on him.
Los Blancos have been clinical when it comes to picking up free agents they really want in recent years. Kylian Mbappe was whipped away from PSG in spectacular fashion while Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared well prepared for his Real Madrid introduction when he spoke Spanish at his unveiling.
Real Madrid are a club that excel in picking up targets like Saliba. As long as the 24-year-old remains out of contract in 2027, Arsenal have cause to be wary.
One particular deal, though, could shift the balance in the Gunners’ favour.
Konate key to Saliba’s future?
Ibrahima Konate, Saliba’s international team-mate, is tipped to join Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer. He has repeatedly knocked back Liverpool’s advances over a new deal and, according to Marca, is poised to move to the Bernabeu.
Of course, this would not end Real Madrid’s interest in Saliba, but it would give Arsenal room for manoeuvre.
With Dean Huijsen recruited to the defensive corps of Xabi Alonso’s side, they would appear to be set for the future and their pursuit of Saliba would not be so intense.
For that reason, Arsenal will be praying that the rumours are true: that Konate really is destined for Real Madrid. It could be the Gunners’ biggest off-pitch victory of the season – and key to keeping Saliba at the Emirates.
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