La Liga and European giants Real Madrid have made a shock swoop to lure Arsenal’s top player to the Santiago Bernabeu next summer.
With a piling injury crisis, the European giants are seeking to bolster their options to forestall possible lapses from key absences, as per Spanish outlets.
Their interest in the Premier League star coming amidst the club’s preparation to raid the English top flight next summer for more players.
It is no secret that Los Blancos are gearing up to poach the Premier League’s finest talent having been linked with multiple players in recent months.
They have reportedly stepped up their interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold this month while Rodri’s signature is seen as an aspirational goal.
Real Madrid interested in William Saliba
In September, The Independent reported that Cristian Romero and William Saliba were part of their four-man shortlist alongside those names.
And now French outlet Le10Sport have claimed that Saliba has been elevated to their highest priority, with Madrid having already put out feelers to his camp.
According to the report, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are on the cusp of launching a ‘major operation’ to lure the defender to the Spanish capital.
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 his partnership with Gabriel is, for some, the most enviable in world football.
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.
Last year he inked a new contract at the Emirates until 2027 reportedly worth around £10million per season.
It is therefore reasonable to assume that Arsenal would not hand him over without a fight and compelling financial persuasion.
The Gunners consider the French defender key to their pair and has been crucial in the club’s push for the Premier League title in the past two seasons.
His pairing with Gabriel Magalhaes has produced a watertight defense strong enough to take on the most deadly attacks and forwards.
Last season, Saliba played a great role as Arsenal stopped Premier League Golden Boot winner and Manchester City star Erling Haaland from finding the back of the net.
Such feats has seen him emerge into Real Madrid’s radar as a viable option to partner Anthony Rudiger in Los Blancos’ defense with Eder Militao struggling with incessant injury.
Real Madrid’s planned Premier League transfer raid
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 £47.m as per Sky Sports.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of four Premier League stars reported to be targeted by Madrid
Rodri is also reportedly among the players that Real Madrid could look to sign next summer
Rodri is also reportedly among the players that Real Madrid could look to sign next summer. 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 Alexander-Arnold this summer.
Their pursuit of Saliba suggests that they are willing to break from that recent tradition.
