Real Madrid are very interested in signing Arsenal defender William Saliba, and they will stop at nothing to realise it.
According to a report from Le Equipe, Real Madrid look at Saliba as their next defensive leader, and will try to sign him as soon as there is a possibility. They don't mind signing Saliba in 2025, in 2026 when he enters the final year of his contract, or as a free agent in 2027, according to the report.
Fabrizio Romano recently made a video about it confirming Real Madrid's interest in him, and that they will try to sign him if there is an opportunity to do so. However, everything depends on how Arsenal's renewal talks with Saliba go.
This is brilliant. Saliba is one of the best central defenders in the world, if not the best, and his young age could only mean good things for Real Madrid's defensive future. He has been exceptional ever since he returned to Arsenal from all his loan spells in France.
However, Real Madrid need to figure out what they need to do until he joins.
Real Madrid still need a defender now if Saliba decides to join a year or two later
It is very, very unlikely that Real Madrid actually sign Saliba this summer. Saliba has shown no signs of wanting to leave Arsenal, and is currently enjoying the best season of his life, in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
In the most likely case he does not leave the club based in North London in the summer, Real Madrid cannot just ignore the state of their defensive problems.
Real Madrid have just one fit center-back that will be around next season - Raul Asencio. When Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger return, they will have three, but they still need a fourth.
It was clear after this season that they need four really good central defenders. It is also clear that David Alaba should not be one of the four at the club next season.
He is by far Real Madrid's worst one, which means there is a need for Real Madrid to sign one more, even if he is still there. Alaba has been poor ever since he returned from his ACL injury, and he is on a bad contract, meaning it would be tough to move him.
Real Madrid need to sign a defender at any cost. They can't keep asking Aurelien Tchouameni to do defensive shifts when he is clearly much more suited to the pivot.
If they do not sign anyone, they would have to rely on an Militao who has had two ACL injuries in two seasons, and an Alaba who is so far past his prime that it is tough to watch. Rudiger has played too many minutes and through too many injuries to be put through all of that again.
Real Madrid may get Saliba in the future, but they also have to fix the now.