Arsenal star loved by Arteta becomes 'top' Real Madrid target as La Liga club make 'first contact'

Arsenal’s William Saliba is now reportedly Real Madrid’s top summer target, despite numerous reports in the past few months that have indicated the French defender is not for sale.

Los Blancos are said to be hopeful of raiding the Premier League’s top talents and have been linked with several players in recent months, notably stepping up their interest in Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester City defensive midfielder Rodri.

However, French media outlet Le10Sport have reported that Saliba is now the club’s ‘new priority’ with the La Liga outfit having already sent out feelers to the 23-year-old’s camp. The first point of contact is said to have been made primarily to make Madrid’s position clear and find out where the defender stands on a potential Emirates exit.

Considered one of the best defenders in the world, Saliba has been a vital cog in Mikel Arteta’s defensive set-up since 2022.

He played every minute of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, forming an near infallible partnership with Brazil defender Gabriel. This term has started in similarly impressive fashion with Arteta’s centre-back pairing one of the most envied in European football.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are reportedly set to launch a ‘major operation’ in order to bring the centre-back to the Spanish capital but a price for his signature has not yet been suggested. Madrid are said to have long admired the France international, with links first emerging during Saliba’s 2021/22 loan season at Marseille.

But as he recently signed a new Emirates contract worth up to £10m per season and one which should see him stay in N7 until 2027, it is highly unlikely the Gunners will be unwilling to part ways with such a fan favourite without a strong financial compensation. Madrid have not often forked out the cash for defenders with their last big spend taking place in 2019 when they purchased lef-0back Ferland Mendy from Lyon.

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They have enjoyed a lot of success in the free market, notably brining in starts such as Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea and David Alaba from Bayern Munich, but their continued interest in the ex-Saint Etienne star indicates they are now willing to break away from their recent transfer tactics.

Saliba did not break into the Arsenal side immedietaly but was sent n loan twice before become a regular under Arteta, who was full of praise for him at the end of last season.

“When he arrived at the club after his first loan, we wanted to look at him,’ Arteta told France Football, via Get French Football.

“Our evaluation led us to two conclusions: firstly, he wasn’t ready to play in the Premier League in the role that we thought he could have and most importantly, the environment wasn’t good enough for him to develop, for him to become what we imagined and for him to reach the potential he had. I was 100% convinced that he would play at Arsenal but not at that moment in time.

“I told him that I would not put him in because he wasn’t ready so he had to prove himself elsewhere. He was incredible and consistent and he succeeded in managing other problems. He came back and after one or two training sessions, in a new environment, we knew that, from now on, he could do it. Since, he has proved that brilliantly. His progression and his consistency are incredible. We are very happy to have him here.”