Football General Manager
- Alonso wants to strengthen his defence
- Konate & Saliba are among the options
- Real ready to send officials to London to negotiate
According to Cadena SER, one name who is firmly on Real Madrid‘s shortlist is Arsenal‘s Saliba. The 23-year-old centre-back made a lasting impression during Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in April, a performance that has reportedly catapulted him to the top of Madrid’s defensive wishlist. Although Saliba’s current deal with Arsenal runs until 2027, the Spanish side is undeterred. The club sees Saliba as a cornerstone figure who could lead their next generation of defenders, and they’re preparing to open formal talks with both Arsenal and the player.
Fresh developments from multiple sources, including IndyKaila, indicate that Real Madrid are preparing to dispatch a delegation to London to initiate direct negotiations with Arsenal and Saliba’s camp. While the Gunners have consistently maintained a firm stance that the defender is not for sale, Madrid’s interest appears to be intensifying.
Should Real Madrid fail in their pursuit of Saliba, Liverpool‘s Konate remains another viable alternative. The French international is entering the final year of his current contract at Anfield, and thus far has resisted Liverpool’s attempts to tie him down to a new deal. With the defender potentially available on a cut-price deal this summer, or for free next year, the club sees an opportunity to strike a smart piece of business. However, the Merseyside outfit is reportedly making a concerted effort to retain Konate, with a new contract offer on the table.
Even if Real Madrid manage to secure one of their French targets this summer, neither Arsenal nor Liverpool can afford to breathe easy. According to reports from Marca the Spanish champions could pursue both Konate and Saliba, albeit across two successive summer windows, as they look to completely refresh their ageing defensive ranks.
