Arsenal could be handed a huge transfer blow by Tottenham as one key decision has emerged.
Match day four of the Premier League season was about Arsenal breaking Spurs’ hearts, as the Gunners beat their rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was the third time in a row that Mikel Arteta’s side have got the better of their neighbours in N17, with North London very much belonging to Arsenal.
While those in Islington have bragging rights, a decision at Spurs in the near future could force the tables to turn.
Tottenham contract call could impact William Saliba transfer
Given how impressive Arsenal have been over the last few seasons, it’s unsurprising that some of Arteta’s key players are attracting attention from other clubs.
Following the closing of the summer transfer window, it was reported that Real Madrid are interested in William Saliba, which would be a nightmare scenario for Arsenal.
That being said, there was some optimism over the Galacticos stance on the Frenchman, with it claimed that Madrid are also admirers of Spurs centre-back Cristian Romero.
While there was a sense of relief regarding how Carlo Ancelotti’s side view Romero, there could now be a worrying development for Arsenal to consider.
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Speaking to CaughtOffside about Romero, Fabrizio Romano shared the news that amid Madrid’s interest, Spurs are set to push to offer the defender a new contract.
“Cristian Romero continues to be an important player for Tottenham, and so it’s perhaps normal that we’re starting to see rumours about interest from other top clubs, with some fans asking me if there’s anything to the links with Real Madrid.”
Romano went on to explain that while no talks have ‘started yet’, Spurs are eager to ‘keep him for the long term’, which could spell bad news for Arsenal.
In the instance that Romero extended with Spurs, Madrid could be inclined to push to sign Saliba, which would of course be a massive blow for the Gunners.
Arsenal extended Saliba’s contract in 2023
While the news of Spurs’ plot to extend Romero’s deal could increase Madrid’s desire to sign Saliba, Arsenal are a step ahead regarding their star defender.
The Frenchman signed a new deal last summer, extending his stay to 2027, as well as being handed a hefty pay rise to ensure his future lies in North London.
Given how Arsenal are currently operating both on and off the pitch, it seems unlikely Arteta would be willing to part ways with a player of Saliba’s stature for anything less than a small fortune.
Added to that, the Gunners are now at the level of competing with Europe’s elite such as Real Madrid, a position that Tottenham are not close to at this moment in time.
As a result, the task of luring Romero could be easier for Madrid than attempting to pry Saliba from Arsenal’s grasp, regardless of the two target’s contracts.