- Real Madrid is targeting someone in the mold of one of its current stars
- They reportedly believe the Arsenal player met the requirements and have been in touch
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Real Madrid are already putting together next season's lineup and have reportedly contacted the representatives of an Arsenal star.
In recent months it has been widely reported that Los Blancos have their eye on William Saliba and appear to be intensifying their pursuit of him.
Saliba is having another great campaign, having played all but two games in all competitions. Arsenal have the strongest defense in the Premier League, conceding just 19 goals so far this season.
He has been in the Premier League team of the season for two years in a row and it is no surprise that that consistency attracts Real Madrid.
Walking market reports that Madrid are interested in signing him this summer and that he meets all the requirements they are looking for.
Real Madrid are said to be looking for a 'new Eder Militao', who will be out until the summer due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Real Madrid would have contacted William Saliba's squad and wants him this summer
Arsenal are on course to once again have the best defensive record in the Premier League this year.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is said to want a defender like the injured Eder Militao.
While Micky van de Ven, Josko Gvardiol and Aymeric Laporte are on his radar, Saliba could prove cheaper in the summer.
Saliba will only have two years left on his contract at the Emirates in the summer, with no built-in option to extend it.
The Frenchman signed the new contract last season and is worth around £10m per season.
Saliba has been a lynchpin of Arsenal's defensive line since 2022 and played every minute of the 2023-24 campaign in the Premier League's tightest defense.
This season has been no different and his partnership with Gabriel is, for some, the most enviable in world football.
Madrid have long admired Saliba, having been named part of a group of suitors in the 2021-22 season while impressing on loan at Marseille.
Madrid has not spent a lot of money on a defender for years. Their last big outlay at the back was for Lyon left-back Ferland Mendy in 2019, when they shelled out around £47m according to Sky Sports.
They have had success on the free market by bringing in stars such as Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea and David Alaba from Bayern Munich, and the same could happen with Alexander-Arnold this summer.
