Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal star remains “DREAM” target for CL giants despite another imminent deal | OneFootball

Fabrizio Romano has delivered some rather worrying Arsenal news as it seems Real Madrid might not have given up on signing William Saliba just yet.

The Spanish giants are closing in on the signing of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, and some Gunners fans may have been led to believe that could be good news for them.

With Huijsen coming in in central defence, there would perhaps be less need for Real to also try to sign Saliba from Arsenal any time soon.

However, it seems Los Blancos have focused on Huijsen for this summer, with Saliba remaining another of their long-term “dream targets”, according to Romano.

Real Madrid to come back for William Saliba in the future?

Saliba doesn’t look like being available this summer, but with his contract due to expire in 2027, it makes sense that Madrid might look at it again soon.

Arsenal fans may well be focusing on how to buy Arsenal vs Newcastle tickets this weekend, but one imagines there’ll also be a fair few following this story and finding it a bit of a distraction from on-field matters.

Losing Saliba would be a huge blow, and supporters will be hoping the club can do everything in their power to persuade him to sign a new deal.

William Saliba in action for Arsenal vs Bournemouth (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

What Fabrizio Romano has said about William Saliba

“In the list of Real Madrid, the dream target has always been William Saliba,” Romano said on a video on his YouTube channel.

“My information is that Real Madrid understood at the beginning of May that Saliba this summer was impossible to reach as a target because, for Arsenal, he is a crucial player and they are discussing a new contract with William Saliba.

“So Real Madrid’s position on Saliba is clear – they will sign Dean Huijsen now, but Saliba remains a dream target for them.

“Arsenal will have the ball in their court to close the agreement, keep Saliba at the club and extend his contract. Otherwise, if this contract won’t be extended, Real Madrid will be there.”

Huijsen looks like a fine signing for Real this summer, and in the future he could be about to form a world class central defensive partnership with Saliba.

AFC were linked with Huijsen before his move to the Bernabeu was sorted, but they’ll perhaps now have to look elsewhere for a replacement for Saliba if he does end up leaving in the next year or two.