Real Madrid name date of Saliba transfer

Real Madrid are already thinking about signing William Saliba from Arsenal, despite the Premier League club’s reticence to even consider a deal.

Saliba is Los Blancos’ long-term target in the heart of their rearguard, with the France international defender having been earmarked as their primary goal following Leny Yoro’s decision to join Manchester United last summer.

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Madrid’s plan had been to sign Yoro as a free agent in 2025, but his move to England has forced them into a rethink, putting Arsenal‘s Saliba front and centre for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, according to Relevo.

While Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to join the Bernabeu side for nothing from Liverpool in the summer, Madrid are ready to put any further defensive reinforcements on hold in order to ensure they land Saliba in 2026, according to the report.

This comes as something of a shock given Madrid have looked shorthanded in the heart of their defence for much of the season. Injury problems have hit an aging unit, but equally Ancelotti’s side are happy with the progress made by Jacobo Ramon and Joan Martinez, which has eased their need to go into the market.

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Real Madrid to repeat Trent trick with Saliba

As such, they can focus on Saliba in 18 months, aware that the Arsenal star’s contract at the Emirates Stadium expires in 2027. If he has not signed a new deal by the summer of 2026, he will become a viable transfer option.

Real Madrid will try to negotiate a lower transfer fee at that point or will try to persuade him not to sign a new contract, Relevo reports.

It points out that they have a long history of success in this type of deal, having done so with David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Kylian Mbappe, while they are likely to do so again with Alexander-Arnold.

Saliba is not the only centre-back on Real Madrid’s shortlist, but the Arsenal man is certainly at the top.