Transfer Guru: Major William Saliba update today

Arsenal will turn down any approaches from Real Madrid amid strong interest in William Saliba both in January and next summer.

This is according to former Man United and Blackburn Rovers chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the 23-year-old will not be sold under any circumstances.

Saliba is a crucial part of Mikel Arteta’s side and the club view his long-term future in the heart of their defensive unit which has played a vital part in their recent success.

Brown told Football Insider on 21 November that the Frenchman has emerged as a top target for Madrid as a result of their recent injury crisis in defence.

Last season’s treble winners have suffered significant blows to key defensive players, with David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao all having picked up cruciate ligament injuries.

Florentino Perez’s transfer team have already turned their attentions to the transfer window as they search for replacements, with Saliba emerging as an option.

However, the Gunners are set to throw a spanner in the works as they will block the defender’s exit given his role as a star player at the Emirates.

Arsenal block William Saliba’s move to Real Madrid

Since the start of last season, Saliba has started 49 of a possible 50 league games, missing just one through suspension, and is vital at the heart of Arteta’s defensive unit.

Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after spending over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that Arsenal will do anything they can to keep him at the club.

“It’s difficult to shut the door on things like that,” he told Football Insider.

“But a lot of it will depend on whether he actually wants to go or not.

“What I would say is that nobody wins anything without a quality defence, and one of Arsenal’s strengths in recent years has been their back four.

“Then they picked up injuries and suspensions and you saw the difference it can make.

“So from what I’ve heard, they’re not going to let Saliba go under any circumstances.

“He’s very much a part of Arteta’s plans and one of his most important players.

“They would do anything in their power to keep him, because having to find a replacement for him would set them back two years.

“Real Madrid are certainly interested because they’ve got to refresh their team at some stage.

“But from an Arsenal point of view, I don’t think there’s any way they let him leave. He’s too important and will be for the foreseeable future there.”

In other news, significant update on Newcastle interest in Gabriel Jesus.

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