Arsenal stars have apparently become top summer targets for Real Madrid.

Los Blancos are clearly preparing for a raid of the best Premier League talent, having linked many players in recent months.

While Rodri’s signature is considered as an aspirational aim, they have apparently increased their interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold this month.

The Independent revealed in September that alongside those names, Cristian Romero and William Saliba belonged to their four-man shortlist.

Now Saliba has been raised to their highest priority, per French publication Le10Sport; Madrid has already sent feelers to his camp.

Real Madrid have reportedly made Arsenal defender William Saliba their top summer target

 

Saliba has been the backbone of Arsenal’s defence alongside centre-half partner Gabriel

According to Le10Sport, 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.

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

Additionally allegedly among the players Real Madrid would consider signing next summer is Rodri.

With stars like Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea and David Alaba from Bayern Munich, they have had success on the open market; same could be true with Alexander-Arnold this summer.

Their search for Saliba implies that they are ready to deviate from that latest custom.