Arsenal can't ignore William Saliba Real Madrid transfer demand any longer after Andrea Berta hint

Two years out from Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract at Anfield ending, Liverpool changed sporting director. Their structure was altered and new faces came in.

Just over 12 month later, it had already started to become clear that Real Madrid were sniffing around and planning to make him their next big Galactico signing on a free. Nothing that has happened since shifted that course of direction.

On Monday, barely 12 hours after Alexander-Arnold had played against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, he confirmed that he would be leaving his boyhood club. There are three games to go this season and two at Anfield. He is set for a proper farewell.

Liverpool have managed to tie down Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah - both over 30 - to two-year extensions. Alexander-Arnold, 26, is a different story.

He always looked the most likely to depart and the wheels for a move to Madrid were in motion well before a January bid was launched to accelerate plans ahead of the summer. For Arsenal, there is a lesson.

They have three key players all out of contract at the end of June, 2027. That is two years away and they have just changed sporting director. There are similarities.

Bukayo Saka is the Alexander-Arnold equivalent as an academy graduate. He has committed himself publicly to the cause in north London. Gabriel Magalhaes has been a serious target for Saudi Arabian clubs over the past two summers, though, and William Saliba is perennially spoken of in links with Madrid.

And that is where the conversation turns for Arsenal. They cannot rest when it comes to Saliba because heads do turn to Madrid. They have that pull and have that power.

Andrea Berta is about to oversee his first summer window in charge and there is a lot on his plate. A striker, midfielder, and winger are paramount, non-negotiable additions. Clearing out the fringes of the squad (players such as Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Jakub Kiwior who have uncertain futures) could also be on the cards. Given the lack of squad depth, it will be a challenge to reinforce the group as well. At least one more permanent goalkeeper will be needed.

There is the more pressing issue of Thomas Partey's own contract. Things are in the pipeline with that and there are only six weeks left until he becomes a free agent. The noises are that it may not be as dead and buried as it had once seemed.

All of this is to say that Berta's first window overlooking the sporting operations may not leave much time for contracts with two years remaining on them. Liverpool and Richard Hughes found out just how quickly six months can pass by, though, and then there is pressure to get deals across the line before the dreaded final-year scenario.

This is still some way down the line for Arsenal, and Saliba has been extremely open to remaining, which is a good sign; but it does show just how quickly things can escalate. Arsenal won't need to be told this but Madrid's activity when it comes to getting ahead of the game only heightens the importance of haste.

They have Saliba's word, for now. "For me, I'm really happy here," he said in February when asked about what is next. "I've been here for two years and a half as well. There is nothing. I'm happy here and I want to continue here."

He also admitted that nothing had started in terms of contract talks. "Not yet, because there is some years [left], so there is no rush at the minute. I'm happy here, that's it."

Saliba continued: "Yeah, of course I want to win big things with Arsenal. If you love this club, and it didn't mean anything, of course I want to win big things here."

These will calm down those who are worried about Madrid playing that trick again. They have signed David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, and Kylian Mbappe on free transfers. Alexander-Arnold will join that list.

No statement has yet been made but it is the worst kept secret in football. Arsenal's task is to ensure that this situation is not repeated with their own star in a few years.

Saliba's comments will be reassurance that they do not have to be too concerned just yet but Alexander-Arnold's emotional goodbye is all it takes to conger up that fear again. Over to you, Mr Berta.

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