Arsenal plans to present star defender William Saliba with a new contract due to interest from Real Madrid, while Reece James may depart from Chelsea.

Arsenal are reportedly ready to offer a substantial salary increase to defender William Saliba amid growing interest from Real Madrid.

The French international is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world, and with his current deal set to expire in just two years, the Gunners are keen to secure his future.

According to The Mirror, Arsenal are determined to fend off the advances of Real Madrid by initiating contract talks with Saliba. The Spanish giants are on the lookout for a centre-back this summer and have identified the Gunners’ defender as their top target.

Incoming Real boss Xabi Alonso is eager to bolster his back four, and Saliba, a France international, is seen as one of the finest young defenders in Europe. Arsenal are desperate to tie the 24-year-old down to a new long-term deal at the Emirates to ensure he remains at the club.

Saliba’s current contract runs until 2027, but Arsenal understand that this summer presents a crucial opportunity to negotiate, with two years left on his deal. Although he is already one of Arsenal’s top earners, having last signed a contract in 2023, Saliba is aware of his market value and the potential for a significant increase.

While contract talks are still in the early stages, Arsenal are eager to secure one of their prized assets, with Saliba currently earning around £190,000 a week but likely to command a much higher salary to become one of Europe’s best-paid defenders.

In other news, Chelsea may be forced to sacrifice Reece James as Enzo Maresca has recently deployed Moises Caicedo at right-back and Romeo Lavia in central midfield, leaving the club captain struggling for regular starts.

The Sun suggests that James, along with Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill, could be sold to generate funds for this summer’s transfer window. The paper notes that James, a natural marauding full-back, has mostly featured in Lavia’s absence this season, which is not ideal for the team’s highest earner.

With Caicedo proving to be a consistent performer, it may be Andrey Santos, currently on loan at Strasbourg, who steps in for Lavia when needed next season. James will undoubtedly attract interest, having been linked with some of Europe’s top clubs, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Chelsea opted to cash in if he remains underutilised.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have drawn up a recruitment shortlist, as reported by The Athletic.

Marc Guehi is their preferred central defender, while Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is also on their radar. In attack, Bryan Mbeumo, Anthony Elanga, and Antoine Semenyo are being monitored, with Liam Delap earmarked as a potential striker signing.

The website explains that significant progress has been made in identifying priority positions to strengthen, including centre-back, right-sided forward, striker, and goalkeeper. Recruitment meetings over the past fortnight have helped narrow down target lists.

With the possibility of Eddie Howe’s side reaching the Champions League, asking prices for targets are expected to rise, as clubs will recognise Newcastle’s increased transfer budget. Lessons have been learned from the pursuit of Guehi, and Newcastle aim to avoid a repeat of last summer’s drawn-out saga.

Lastly, Dean Huijsen appears set to join Real Madrid this summer, leaving three Premier League clubs likely to miss out.

Chelsea had been the most interested English side, but both Arsenal and Liverpool had also considered making a move for the Bournemouth defender. The Telegraph states that Real Madrid are confident of outpacing Chelsea in the race for Huijsen after intensifying their interest.

Chelsea were initially seen as favourites to land Huijsen, who has a £50 million release clause that can reportedly be paid in three instalments. However, Madrid have now taken the lead in the pursuit of the Dutch-born Spain international.

Real Madrid have already held talks regarding Huijsen’s signing and are believed to be prepared to offer a significantly higher guaranteed salary than Chelsea. The release clause is manageable for both clubs, especially since it does not need to be paid in one lump sum, making Madrid an attractive option for Huijsen.