Barcelona Eyes £86 Million Arsenal Star in Ambitious Move
Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly eyeing an ambitious move for a highly valued Arsenal star, leveraging a lucrative £127 million-per-season deal with Nike.
Several Arsenal players are expected to depart this summer, including Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny, whose contracts expire on June 30. Additionally, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and midfielder Thomas Partey might also be on their way out, facing uncertain futures at the club.
Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu are reshaping the squad, with several academy players and other first-team members potentially leaving Hale End. Players like Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Nuno Tavares could also be sold.
However, some players are deemed untouchable, particularly star center-back William Saliba. The Frenchman has become a key figure in Arsenal’s defense, significantly increasing his market value following a successful loan spell at Marseille and a strong season with the Gunners.
Saliba, currently representing France at Euro 2024, has caught the attention of elite European clubs, including Real Madrid. But it’s Barcelona, bolstered by their new Nike deal, that is reportedly plotting an ambitious move for the 23-year-old. This potential transfer, seen as a long shot, aims to resolve Barcelona’s defensive issues and strengthen their squad for the future.
Barcelona’s financial struggles have been well-documented, but the substantial kit deal with Nike has renewed their spending power. Laporta is not just eyeing Saliba; he also has Manchester City’s Erling Haaland on his radar, hoping to secure both stars within the next three years.
Despite Barcelona’s interest, Arsenal considers Saliba a cornerstone of their future plans under Arteta, making any potential transfer challenging for the Catalan giants.