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(Credit: Imago)
Oliver Walton
Fri 1 August 2025 6:30, UK
William Saliba has responded to a short message from Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga with a new Arsenal contract still yet to be agreed.
Saliba has been outstanding for Arsenal in recent seasons and developed into one of the outstanding centre-backs in world football.
He has formed one of the best defensive partnerships in world football with Gabriel Magalhaes in recent seasons, yet the Gunners’ have still struggled to win trophies despite their impressive squad.
Football Insider revealed in May that Arsenal are concerned about Real Madrid’s interest in Saliba, and sources say that “alarm bells are ringing” at the North London club with his future uncertain.
The Gunners are prepared to do all they can to keep Saliba with contract talks underway, as revealed to Football Insider by former scout Mick Brown, but Los Blancos have “long-term plans” in place to attract the him to La Liga, and he is still yet to sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are facing a battle to keep hold of Saliba (Credit: Getty Images)
Saliba will be familiar with versatile midfielder Camavinga from his time spent with the French national team, with pair having played together 18 times for Les Bleus senior and age-group sides over the last four years.
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The Real Madrid man took to Instagram on Thursday (31 July) to share an update of his life during the off season with the one-word caption: “Slide,” as Xabi Alonso’s side continue to rest and recuperate following the Club World Cup.
Saliba moved to leave a like on Camavinga’s post to fuel rumours of him potentially joining his compatriot in the Spanish capital, while others such as Luka Modric, Vinicius Jr, Desire Doue and Moises Caicedo all also did the same.
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Football Insider verdict
Saliba has been a regular at the back for Mikel Arteta over each of the last three seasons, and is now regarded as one of the best centre-backs in world football, so it comes as no surprise to see him earmarked for a big-money move to Madrid.
Arsenal have not yet won a trophy with him marshalling their defence, but there is a sense that they are building each year under their Spanish boss, and losing Saliba would be absolutely detrimental to any chances of picking up major silverware in the near future.
AppearancesGoalsAssists13472Saliba’s Arsenal career stats
Former scout Brown recently revealed to Football Insider that the Gunners are planning to offer Saliba a new bumper contract soon, with the 24-year-old recently admitting that he is “hopefully” going to be able to sign a new deal.
They need to agree fresh terms with the France international soon though, as he is now in the final two years of his deal and so could go for a much smaller fee than initially envisaged if he was to leave for Madrid next summer, with their interest unlikely to go away anytime before then.
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