Arsenal’s recent defeat against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup was a setback, but it doesn’t define them as a poor team.
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal boasts quality across the pitch, which is why they’ve been in the running for the Premier League title for three consecutive seasons now. This has not gone unnoticed, with clubs like Real Madrid taking interest.
William Saliba, one of the world’s top defenders, has been with Arsenal since 2019, but it’s only in the last three years that he’s become a regular. At just 23, he’s been outstanding, drawing attention from Real Madrid, who, according to TBR Football in September, sent scouts to watch him play against Aston Villa. RMC Sports has since confirmed that Real Madrid see Saliba as their ‘absolute priority’ for the summer transfer window.
Arsenal, however, has no intention of selling Saliba and would set a ‘dissuasive’ price to deter Real Madrid. If a transfer does happen, Saliba would become the priciest defender ever.
Given his young age and current status among the best centre-backs globally, Arsenal should be reluctant to let him go. But, should Saliba choose to move, Arsenal could command an exorbitant fee, likely making him the most expensive defender in football history.
| Defender | Transfer | Fee |
| Josko Gvardiol | RB Leipzig to Manchester City | £76.6m |
| Harry Maguire | Leicester City to Manchester United | £73.3m |
| Matthijs de Ligt | Ajax to Juventus | £72m |
| Virgil van Dijk | Southampton to Liverpool | £71.3m |
| Wesley Fofana | Leicester City to Chelsea | £67.75m |
The CIES Football Observatory has pegged William Saliba’s current market value at €101.8 million (£85m). If Real Madrid were to sign him for that amount, he’d still break the record for the most expensive defender ever, but Arsenal would likely seek a much higher fee.
To safeguard their interest in Saliba, Arsenal should consider extending his contract, which is set to run out in the summer of 2027.
Arsenal have a ‘new Martin Odegaard’ ready to be unleashed this season by Mikel Arteta
Arsenal might just have another Martin Odegaard in their ranks with 15-year-old academy star Max Dowman. This young talent has displayed similar qualities to Odegaard, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly considering including him in a first-team matchday squad this season.
Dowman has already made an impact with Arsenal’s under-19 team in the UEFA Youth League before Christmas, despite being significantly younger than his peers and competitors. He also broke records by becoming the youngest player to feature for Arsenal’s under-21 team, coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw against Brighton.
Much like Odegaard, Dowman excels at dribbling past opponents and delivering precise passes through defenses. In a match against Sporting’s under-19 team, he demonstrated his speed by sprinting to pressure the goalkeeper and consistently managed to dodge challenges with his agility and ball control.
Turning 15 on December 31, Dowman was part of Arsenal’s squad for their mid-season trip to Dubai. The Daily Mail suggests that Arteta might even name him on the bench for a senior team game before the season concludes.
With several promising academy players having been signed by rival clubs last summer, Arsenal’s leadership is keen to demonstrate a clear path to the first team. Reports indicate that multiple Premier League academies have approached Dowman’s father, showing interest in the youngster, which could lead to him being signed by another club before Arsenal can secure him with a scholarship for the 2026/27 season.
Dowman made his under-18 debut in September 2023 at just 13 years old and contributed four assists in a 5-2 win over Fulham half a year later.
And after the clash with Fulham, former Arsenal under-18s boss Jack Wilshere explained: “There’s always a concern when fielding such a young player in these matches, but if you’re good enough you’re old enough.
“Hopefully, we can fast-track him and when he goes over to the first team he’ll be more ready.
“Debut opportunities aren’t handed out lightly, and Max has demonstrated over the past few months that he deserves this chance. He handled the moment admirably.”
