MAD KEEN TO STAY
Arsenal receive huge transfer boost as star man William Saliba pledges future to club amid Real Madrid interest
Star defender believes he'll stay for years at the Emirates despite links to Spanish giants
WILLIAM SALIBA has handed Arsenal a massive boost by pledging his long-term future to the club.
Spanish giants Real Madrid have made the centre-back, 23, their No 1 summer target.
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But the Frenchman insisted: “I feel at home here.
“I signed for the club five years ago but it’s only my third season and I’m enjoying everything — the players, staff and fans.”
And, asked at an Arsenal in the Community visit to Islington’s Ashmount Primary School if he could envisage staying at the Emirates for a long time, Saliba replied: “Yeah, of course.”
Arsenal splashed out £27million to sign the then 18-year-old from Saint-Etienne in July 2019 before loaning him back.
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Two more loan spells at Nice and Marseille followed.
But the 6ft 3in ace has now made 102 appearances under Mikel Arteta, establishing himself as one of world’s top defenders.
The boyhood Arsenal fan signed a new four-year deal at the club last summer.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s European champions are battling a defensive injury crisis.
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And ex-Bernabeu defender Rafael Alkorta, 56, said: “I love Saliba, I would definitely sign him.”
Meanwhile, the Gunners hope to move four points behind Prem leaders Liverpool with victory at Fulham on Sunday
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Saliba's backline colleagues Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori face fitness assessments.
Fellow defenders Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are still out injured.
Arsenal will definitely not have to take on frontman Reiss Nelson.
Fulham aren't allowed to field the loanee against his parent club.
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