Real Madrid are ‘most keen’ to sign Arsenal’s superstar centre-back William Saliba in the summer transfer window, according to reports.
It is believed that the current Spanish and European champions wish to recruit a new central defender at the end of the current 2024-25 season.
Real Madrid have been short of options due to injuries and a lack of signings, which has left them somewhat vulnerable at the back.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are considering a number of centre-backs but Arsenal’s key defender Saliba is their No.1 pick, The Athletic have reported.
They claim that Real Madrid ‘have kept a positive relationship’ with Saliba’s entourage ahead of a possible transfer approach in the summer.
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Real Madrid have long admired Saliba and were keeping tabs on him when he was still at French side Saint-Etienne before his Arsenal breakthrough.
Losing Saliba would be a devastating blow for Arsenal, with the 24-year-old one of the first names on Mikel Arteta’s teamsheet at the Emirates.
The France international has formed an important partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, becoming one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
Saliba has played a total of 125 games for Arsenal to date and has been vital to their Premier League title challenges across the last few seasons.
He helped Arsenal keep a clean sheet in their 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg victory over Real Madrid in north London on Tuesday.
Saliba’s current Arsenal deal expires in the summer of 2027, with the Frenchman having agreed his last contract extension two years ago.
He was named in the Professional Footballers’ Association Premier League Team of the Year in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Arsenal finished as top-flight runners up to Manchester City in both of those two seasons.
If Saliba’s price tag is too high at the end of the season, Real Madrid may look to deploy their usual transfer strategy by discreetly staying close to him and preparing a move in 2026 for an affordable amount – when he has 12 months left on his deal – or even the following summer as a free agent.
The good news for Arsenal is that Real Madrid are also thought to be considering other options, including AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen.
Real Madrid, though, are reluctant to pay his £50m release clause and it’s thought he may join a Premier League club instead, such as Liverpool.
Bournemouth boss Andoi Iraola is feeling relaxed over Huijsen’s future, telling a press conference on Friday: ‘My only concern with Dean is that he keeps his focus here.
‘He trains very well, he’s very focused on improving individually and improving the team collectively. We have some important games ahead of us and I see him in a really good place. I don’t think the noise around him is affecting him, I see him in a good place.’