Mikel Arteta handed major Arsenal transfer boost as new £70m stance emerges

Mikel Arteta is desperate to keep William Saliba at Arsenal and sees him as 'irreplaceable' despite reported transfer interest from Real Madrid. Los Blancos have Saliba, Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate and Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano as their main three centre-back targets to improve the defence next season.

It has been reported that Saliba is open to leaving Arsenal for a new challenge, while Konate and Upamecano would both be available on free transfers when their contracts expire in the summer of 2026. Saliba, meanwhile, has two years left on his deal at the Emirates Stadium and the Gunners are determined to keep hold of the France international. Indeed, according to AS, Arsenal value him at around £70million.

This, alongside the fact that Saliba is 'irreplaceable for Arteta', is going to make it difficult for the La Liga side to negotiate with the Gunners, who want to tie the defender down to a new long-term contract.

Also, Arsenal have no need to sell Saliba and are under no pressure to offload him for Profit and Sustainability (PSR) restrictions. Combining these factors, it's thought that the Gunners are confident of fending off interest.

AS add that Konate and Upamecano are viewed as more accessible due to their contract situations, with both players not expected to remain at their respective clubs beyond the end of the 2025/26 season.

Saliba returned to the starting line-up for Arsenal against Manchester City on Sunday after recovering from an ankle injury he picked up in the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool before the last international break.

The former Saint Etienne man was on the bench to face Athletic Club in the Champions League but was recalled back to the XI for the clash against City, with Cristhian Mosquera dropping out.

Arsenal ended up salvaging a 1-1 draw with City as Gabriel Martinelli's 93rd-minute equaliser cancelled out Erling Haaland's first-half opener. The point ensured the Gunners moved back to second after winning three and drawing one of their opening five matches, though they are now five points behind leaders Liverpool.

"I must say I'm very, very proud of the players and the team," Arteta said after his side's draw against City. "I think the way we played, the way we dominated almost every aspect of the game, apart from the scoreline, it was outstanding. I know that as a coach, and people like me know how difficult it is to do that against Manchester City, and what I would say is, we are very disappointed with the result."

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