Arsenal's William Saliba targeted by Real Madrid for this summer

Arsenal centre-back William Saliba has emerged as a top summer target for Real Madrid, with reports suggesting the Spanish giants view the Frenchman as a long-term leader in defence.

Saliba, 24, widely considered one of the Premier League's standout defenders, impressed during Arsenal’s recent UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash with Madrid.

His one-on-one duels with Kylian Mbappé drew praise from pundits and may have solidified Madrid’s belief that the former Saint-Étienne man is ready to anchor their backline.

According to L’Équipe, Madrid are looking to reinforce their central defence this summer, with Saliba at the top of their shortlist. The Spanish champions are said to view him as a potential successor to stalwarts like David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger, amid growing concerns about both age and injury risk.

Saliba’s stock has soared since establishing himself in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI. Arsenal have made clear they want to keep him, and the player is under contract until 2027, having signed a long-term extension last summer.

However, interest from a club of Madrid’s stature may test the Gunners’ resolve.

The defender market across Europe is expected to be active this transfer window, particularly for French internationals.

Saliba joins a growing list of names linked with moves or contract negotiations, including Ibrahima Konaté at Liverpool, Dayot Upamecano at Bayern Munich, Benjamin Pavard at Inter Milan, Loïc Badé at Sevilla, and Lucas Hernandez at PSG.

Madrid, fresh off a high-profile Champions League campaign, are looking to reshape their squad as part of a broader rebuild, with Kylian Mbappé also reportedly set to join the club this summer.

While no formal offer has been made, all signs point to a potential high-stakes summer saga involving Saliba, Arsenal, and one of Europe’s most ambitious clubs.