Arsenal to block Real Madrid approach for defender

Arsenal return to Premier League action when they host high-flying Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon. 

Mikel Arteta’s side have endured a mixed run of results in recent weeks, picking up just two points from the previous 12 available.

That run of form has left the Gunners fourth in the top flight table, nine points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Arteta will be desperate to see his side return to winning ways when they welcome Forest to The Emirates on Saturday, but in the meantime the North London side are said to have made a decision on the future of one of their most important players.

As per Football Insider, Arsenal will reject any offers for centre-back William Saliba amid interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The report claims that the European champions have been monitoring the Frenchman as they search for a new central defender, but Arsenal’s stance remains that the player is not for sale.

Saliba, 23, joined the Gunners from Saint-Etienne in 2019 before returning to the French side on loan.

Saliba has attracted interest from Real Madrid

He has since spent time on loan at fellow Ligue 1 sides Nice and Marseille, before returning to London and forcing his way into Arteta’s side in 2022.

In total the France international has now played 98 times for Arsenal across all competitions, and the report claims that the club view him as a crucial part of the squad and are therefore unwilling to sell the defender.

Real’s interest in Saliba comes in the aftermath of David Alaba, Eder Militia and Dani Carvajal all picking up cruciate ligament injuries, with Militia and Carvajal sidelined for the remainder of the current campaign.

The report also claims that the Spanish side view Saliba as the type of player capable of establishing himself within their backline for the next decade.

Despite this, Arteta and those in charge of Arsenal are extremely reluctant to let the Frenchman, who has just under three years remaining on his contract, leave.