Imagine the Santiago Bernabéu faithful watching each match with a mixture of hope and anxiety—Real Madrid’s trophy cabinet looks emptier than usual this spring.
After a campaign that’s fallen short of expectations, Los Blancos are already eyeing a summer rebuild, and they’ve set their sights on a handful of standout performers in the Premier League.
A Campaign of Near-Misses and Heartbreaks
This season has been uncharacteristically lean for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Knocked out of the Champions League by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and beaten in the Copa del Rey final by Barcelona, Madrid trail their eternal rivals by four points with just five La Liga games left.
To add to the drama, defender Antonio Rüdiger now faces a possible 12-game suspension for his sideline ice-throw incident.
All of this has pushed the club to rethink their roster—even big names are said to be on the chopping block.
The Saliba Swoon: Why Arsenal’s Wall Is Tempting
At the top of Real’s wish list sits Arsenal’s French centre-back William Saliba.
He was a rock for Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final upset over Madrid—playing every minute across both legs—and impressed so much that Marca reports he’s become Madrid’s number-one defensive target.
The 24-year-old has just two years left on his £10 million-a-season deal at the Emirates and no automatic extension, making him a potentially attainable prize.
A Proven Iron Wall in North London
Since joining Arsenal’s back line in 2022, Saliba has cemented his reputation.
He logged every minute of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign in what was the division’s tightest defence, and this term he’s missed just two league games.
Madrid last spent big on a defender when they paid around £47 million for Ferland Mendy in 2019—but they’ve also seen success with free-agent signings like Rüdiger and David Alaba. Saliba could be next.
Beyond Saliba: Other Big Names on Madrid’s Radar
Real’s summer shopping list doesn’t end with Saliba. They’re also linked to Liverpool’s midfield dynamo Alexis Mac Allister, although prying him away from Anfield—where he’s under contract until 2028—will be a tall order.
Meanwhile, Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad reportedly prefers a move to Arsenal, and Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali—fresh from impressing post-ban—has also been mentioned as a long-term midfield successor to 39-year-old Luka Modrić, whose deal expires next season.
Ancelotti’s Swan Song and a New Era Ahead
With Ancelotti tipped to leave for Brazil’s national team duties ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Real Madrid are bracing for a fresh start.
Bringing in a rock-solid defender like Saliba, a midfield creator in Mac Allister or Zubimendi, and a long-term engine in Tonali could set the stage for their next trophy-laden era.