Madrid's Fresh Decision on Premier League Recruitment Leads to Camp Contact, According to SPORT
According to SPORT, Real Madrid is aiming to make another signing from the Premier League. Previous reports from MARCA and AS suggest that the Spanish and European champions are looking to bolster their squad for the 2024/2025 season, or potentially even earlier.
Ancelotti's first team has been hit hard by injuries, leading President Perez to make a cheeky, rejected offer for Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, as reported by The Times. With Alexander-Arnald set to become a free agent within six months, the Premier League leaders have limited options to prevent him from joining Real Madrid if he's interested.
According to MARCA, negotiations are already underway between Alexander-Arnold and Madrid. His friendship with Jude Bellingham could make him an excellent addition to Madrid's defense, potentially succeeding the aging and injured Dani Carvajal.
There are other defensive gaps to fill, particularly in the heart of the back line, as both David Alaba and Eder Militao are also injured due to ACL ruptures.
AS reports that Madrid is considering AFC Bournemouth's breakout star, Dean Huijsen, as a potential partner for Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi in the Spanish national team. However, according to SPORT, Madrid's focus seems to be on a more established, senior star: Arsenal's William Saliba.
Saliba, aged 23 with a contract until 2027, is not likely to be given up easily by Arsenal, but Madrid has reportedly contacted his entourage and has received a positive response to a potential move. It is believed that Madrid will need to make an offer exceeding $100 million to break the world transfer record for a defender and for Saliba to put in a transfer request.
Having played under Kylian Mbappe's father Wilfried in grassroots football, Saliba, from the same Paris suburb of Bondy, would easily fit in with the French contingent in Madrid and regularly represents Les Bleus alongside them.
Kylian Mbappe, a teammate of Saliba from their shared Paris suburb of Bondy, could welcome his former teammate at Real Madrid if the transfer materializes.
Madrid's interest in Arsenal's William Saliba has also caught the attention of Liverpool, as they seek to prevent any potential departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to their La Liga rival.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold possibly joining Madrid this summer, Liverpool may look to replenish their defense with young talent like Jude Bellingham, who has been impressive with Borussia Dortmund.
Madrid's defense could also benefit from William Saliba's arrival, as the Arsenal center-back's physicality and maturity could provide stability to a backline missing the likes of Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao due to injuries.
