Real Madrid planning 2026 swoop for €80 million-rated Arsenal rising star – report | OneFootball

It is now well-established that Real Madrid are strong admirers of Arsenal and France centre-back William Saliba.

The 23-year-old has rapidly developed into one of the best young defenders in Europe, making him a highly sought-after asset.

Given their need to refresh the squad’s defensive options in the coming years, Los Blancos have been closely monitoring Saliba’s situation at Arsenal.

Real Madrid’s strategy to sign Saliba

According to journalist Carlos Carpio (via Ruben Martin on YouTube), Real Madrid have already outlined a strategy to secure Saliba’s signing.

Rather than making an immediate move, the Spanish and European champions plan to wait until the summer of 2026 before launching their bid.

By that time, Saliba will be entering the final year of his contract with Arsenal, which currently runs until 2027.

Real Madrid remain keen on Saliba. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Real Madrid believe that at this stage, they will be in a stronger position to negotiate a reasonable transfer fee with the Premier League club, as Arsenal may not want to risk losing him for free the following year.

Another factor which could potentially be shaping Real Madrid’s approach is the contract situation of their current centre-backs.

Both Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba have deals that expire in the summer of 2026, meaning the club could be planning for a defensive overhaul at that point.

However, their strategy hinges on Arsenal failing to secure a contract extension with Saliba before then. If the Gunners manage to tie him down to a long-term deal, Real Madrid’s hopes of signing the Frenchman at a discounted price could collapse.

For now, Real Madrid appear content with their defensive options and have no plans to reinforce the centre-back position in the upcoming summer transfer window. Instead, their focus remains on executing a well-timed move for Saliba in 2026.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.