Arsenal supporters felt a chill when Ian Wright delivered his latest warning on William Saliba’s future. The club legend, never shy about speaking his mind, voiced concerns that Real Madrid might swoop in for the defender if Arsenal fail to make the right moves this summer. It’s a fearsome thought. Saliba, whose contract runs until 2027, has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s standout center-backs and has caught the eye of Europe’s most powerful clubs.
Wright didn’t hold back on his “Wrighty’s House” podcast. “When you’re talking about renewals with certain players—Saka, Gabriel, Saliba—the way they’re moving now, I bet those renewals are all going to be slow,” he said. “If they’re not going to get the kind of players that take us to the next step, look at Saliba. Real Madrid would take him tomorrow.”
He worries Arsenal could face a scenario similar to Liverpool’s, where stars like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah took their time negotiating new deals. In short, Arsenal might need a statement summer to persuade players like Saliba and Bukayo Saka to stay put. Another trophy-free season might make them think twice about the future.
A mirror of Liverpool’s dilemma
Many fans see parallels with Liverpool’s contract sagas. Wright believes that if Arsenal fail to invest in top-tier signings, the club’s brightest talents could decide to “run down their contracts.” That risk grows every time Arsenal miss out on silverware or Champions League dominance. Even though Mikel Arteta has led the team to consecutive second-place finishes, the Gunners still trail Liverpool this season and have struggled with injuries and squad depth.
Arteta, for his part, has shown little sign of giving up. “I’m not going to stop over my dead body,” he said in a recent press conference. Yet Arsenal’s January window passed without major reinforcements. The ongoing chatter hints that if the club wants to fend off Real Madrid’s interest—which could surpass $107 million for Saliba—then fresh faces must arrive as soon as the summer window opens.
Tying down star players is only half the battle. Arsenal also need to show they can match these players’ ambitions on the pitch. Slipping further behind Liverpool might convince Saliba and others to entertain offers from Spain or elsewhere. That’s a real possibility unless Arsenal’s board “get it right,” as Wright put it.
For supporters, it’s a tense wait. They’ve watched the team edge closer to glory the last few years, only to fall short when it matters most. Injuries to Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz have left the squad short-handed, yet the club opted against major signings in January. The fear now is that big clubs are circling for its key players.
Arsenal’s hierarchy can’t afford to ignore the alarm bells ringing from one of their most beloved former players. In Wright’s view, the fix is clear: give Arteta the kind of firepower and depth that will keep Saliba and his teammates hungry for more in north London. Real Madrid’s white shirts might start looking pretty tempting if they don’t.
