William Saliba has been among Arsenal’s best players over the past three seasons but now Real Madrid are plotting an ambitious transfer move for the French centre-back
Arsenal are in the thick of what could prove to be a defining week in their season.
The Gunners got back to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday with a battling 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the North London derby. Next up is a trip to face Atalanta in the Champions League but already talk has turned to this weekend’s clash with title rivals Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta is yet to beat his old master, Pep Guardiola, in a league game, so he’ll be desperate to come away from the Etihad with all three points. The Arsenal boss already has various selection headaches and one thing he could do without is a European giant being interested in one of his best players.
Here’s a round-up of the latest news from the Emirates.
Real Madrid plot Saliba transfer
Real Madrid view Arsenal centre-back William Saliba as the man who can become the ‘future of their defence’. The Independent report that the reigning Spanish and European champions are looking to raid the Premier League of some if its best players in the coming transfer windows.
Real are said to remain keen on signing Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester City midfield Rodri. Bernabeu chiefs acknowledge that Saliba would be difficult to prise away from Arsenal so have identified Tottenham’s Crisitian Romero as an alternative and more attainable centre-back target.
Vieira suffers injury blow
Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira has suffered another injury just weeks after re-joining Porto. The 24-year-old midfielder is yet to feature for the Portuguese giants, though, and his manager doesn’t know when he’ll return.
As quoted by A Bola, Vitor Bruno said: “It won’t be a concern, he’s being reassessed daily. He’s really eager to help. He’s also brilliant at what his maximum ceiling is, the way he adapts to a new group, he comes with different habits from England.”
Arteta drops Sterling hint
Mikel Arteta has hailed new Arsenal signing Raheem Sterling, as calls to drop Gabriel Martinelli increase. Still yet to score this season, Martinelli came in for criticism following the win at Tottenham
Sterling made his Gunners debut as a second-half substitute against Spurs and Arteta said of the Chelsea loanee post-match: “He looks great. He has got a big smile on his face, a lot of energy and he wants to prove a point. When someone has got that in their belly you sense it straight away. I don’t need to discuss his quality and what he can bring to the team.”