Jason Cundy has told Arsenal fans why they ‘could not moan’ if Edu sells ‘the best’ player in his position in England to Real Madrid during the summer transfer market.
Los Blancos have taken a shine to the talents at the Gunners as manager Carlo Ancelotti and president Florentino Perez prepare their shopping list. Real Madrid intend to move in the off-season to expand their side despite making the Champions League final and winning La Liga.
Real Madrid won their 36th Spanish top-flight title this season. They will also go to Wembley on June 1 targeting their 15th Champions League crown. Kylian Mbappe is even expected to switch PSG for the Galacticos. But Real Madrid are said to have eyes on an Arsenal man, too.
Real Madrid look at Arsenal defender William Saliba with ever-increasing admiration
That is according to HITC, which reports that Real Madrid have taken stock of William Saliba and could target his transfer from Arsenal this summer. Los Blancos are eager to sign a new centre-back in the off-season as Eder Militao’s ACL injury has highlighted their lack of depth.
Ancelotti still trusts Militao and Antonio Rudiger but Real Madrid are actively looking into the future. Santiago Bernabeu chiefs have also instructed chief scout Juni Calafat to identify the top talents. The Galacticos like Saliba, LOSC Lille’s Leny Yoro and SL Benfica’s Antonio Silva.
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Real Madrid may not be able to afford a move for Saliba this summer along with Mbappe and Endrick. But the Spanish capital club look at the Arsenal ace with ever-increasing admiration after Calafat and his staff turned in glowing reports on what Saliba offers under Mikel Arteta.
Jason Cundy feels Arsenal fans ‘couldn’t moan’ if Edu sells William Saliba for £130m
Former Chelsea centre-back Cundy certainly believes Arsenal can demand a massive fee to sell Saliba to Real Madrid. But if sporting director Edu were to accept a bid of around £130m for the 23-year-old, Cundy feels the Gunners’ supporters could not argue with the price tag.
“I am going to go £130m,” Cundy told talkSPORT. “Maybe [Arsenal sell at that price]. If they did, Arsenal fans listen to this, they couldn’t come on talkSPORT and moan about the price.
“I think they would moan about him going and they will be complaining and understandably rightly so. But if someone comes in with £130m, the problem they have got then [is] he has been the best centre-back in the country.”
Jason Cundy feels William Saliba is ‘the best’ centre-back in the Premier League
Given Cundy sees Saliba as ‘the best’ centre-back in the Premier League, he actually admits £130m may also not be enough for Real Madrid to secure his transfer from Arsenal. Instead, he feels the 13-cap France enforcer could fetch £150m given the lack of comparable names.
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Cundy added: “I am not sure that gets him, I have just changed my mind. I am not sure that gets him. I think you might be coming in, I am going to go £150m. The thing is centre-halves of that quality, try and find them. Give me another three that’s near him [and] of his age.”
Saliba is the perfect centre-back for Arsenal under Arteta with his pace and guile enough to foil any centre-forward. He is also a physical presence at the back who rarely puts a foot out of line. Standing at 6 ft 3, Saliba can also dominate duels in the air, as well as on the ground.