Trouble for Arsenal! Gunners braced for transfer approach from Real Madrid for Premier League star but will force La Liga champions to fork out mammoth fee to land their 'top priority' this summer

According to RMC Sport, Arsenal centre-back William Saliba is an 'absolute priority' transfer target this summer. The report adds that the Gunners do not want to lose the Frenchman but if he is sold he would become the most expensive defender in football history.

The 23-year-old has, arguably, become one of the best centre-backs in the game and if he were to leave Arsenal, reports suggest he could fetch a fee in excess of the £80 million ($99.7m) Manchester United forked out to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City in 2019. But the Gunners will fight tooth and nail to keep the France international.

The 6ft 4in defender, whose Arsenal contract runs until 2027, has made 116 appearances for the north London outfit, scoring seven goals along the way.

Transfer speculation aside, Saliba will now be focusing on Arsenal's next game - which is away to Leicester City in the Premier League on February 15