Why Real Madrid have abandoned their plans to sign a 26-year-old star has been revealed, with Arsenal now fully expected to wrap up a deal that will sting Liverpool, according to reports.

Roma centre-half Evan Ndicka, 25, is also being closely monitored by Arsenal and talks are in place over a potential deal for the Ivory Coast international, who is reportedly available for a fee in the region of (£25-34million).

Despite Arteta’s confidence, a report from Cadena SER (via Foot Mercato) now claims Arsenal have already identified a replacement for Saliba, who is ‘likely to leave at the end of the season’. According to the report, the Gunners are ‘aware’ of this possibility and ‘have already prepared an offensive to recruit his successor’.