Real Madrid are already drafting next season’s line-up and have reportedly made contact with an Arsenal star’s representatives.
It has been widely reported in recent months that Los Blancos have an eye for William Saliba and they appear to be stepping up their pursuit of him.
Saliba is having another storming campaign, having played all bar two matches in all competitions. Arsenal have the Premier League’s strongest defence, conceding just 19 goals so far this season.
He has been in the Premier League team of the season for two years running and it is no surprise that such consistency appeals to Real Madrid.
Foot Mercato reports that Madrid are keen to sign him this summer and that he ticks every box they are looking for.
Real are said to be looking for a ‘new Eder Militao,’ who is out until the summer with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Real Madrid have reportedly contacted William Saliba’s camp and want him this summer
Arsenal are on course to have the best defensive record in the Premier League again this year
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is said to want a defender in the mould of the injured Eder Militao
While Micky van de Ven, Josko Gvardiol, and Aymeric Laporte are on their radar, Saliba could come cheaper in the summer.
Saliba will have just two years left on his deal at the Emirates by the summer, with no in-built option to extend it.
The Frenchman only signed the new contract last season, worth around £10million per season.
Saliba has been a lynchpin of the Arsenal back line since 2022 and played every minute of the 2023-24 campaign in the Premier League’s most watertight defence.
This season has been no different and has developed a strong partnership with Gabriel.
Madrid have long admired Saliba, having been named as part of a group of suitors in the 2021-22 season while he was impressing on loan at Marseille.
Madrid have not spent big bucks on a defender for years. Their last major outlay at the back was for left-back Ferland Mendy from Lyon in 2019, when they forked out around £47m.
They have had success in the free market bringing in stars such as Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea and David Alaba from Bayern Munich, and it could be the same with Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.
