Real Madrid ‘make Arsenal centre-back William Saliba their No 1 target for the summer but will have to make Frenchman ‘most expensive defender in history’
Real Madrid have reportedly made Arsenal defender William Saliba their top summer transfer target.
Saliba has established a reputation as one of the finest defenders in the world in recent seasons and was included in the 2024 FIFA The Best World XI.
He has been linked with a future move to Madrid for some time and Los Blancos are stepping up their pursuit, according to RMC Sport.
It is no secret that Madrid need reinforcements at the back and the report states that Saliba has all the qualities they are looking for.
However, the Gunners will put up a strong fight to keep him.
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.
Real Madrid have made Arsenal defender William Saliba their top summer transfer target
Carlo Ancelotti’s team have plenty of elite options in attack but their defence is lacking
Mikel Arteta’s team do not want to lose Saliba and it could require a record transfer fee
RMC claim Arsenal consider him the best defender in world football and the price tag they would demand would see Saliba become the highest paid defender in world football.
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.
