Real Madrid are eyeing up a move for Arsenal defender William Saliba, despite the fact he only signed for the Gunners this summer.
Arsenal completed the signing of the highly-rated 18-year-old this summer, paying Saint Etienne £27m for the privilege.
The deal with the French club included Saliba spending this season on loan with the Ligue 1 side, with him making six appearances in all competitions so far.
He will return to the Emirates next summer, but it seems the Gunners may have to fight off interest in him before he’s even played a game for the club.
Defensa Central, a Real Madrid fan website, have an exclusive this weekend that states the club have Saliba on their list of potential targets.
The website claims sources close to the club have told them Zinedine Zidane has asked Madrid to ‘closely monitor’ three players in Ligue 1 as they look for ‘the new Varane’.
One of those is Saliba, who they claim ‘remains on the Madrid agenda’ despite his move to the Emirates this summer.
It’s not stated that they will be making a move, but Zidane has reportedly asked Madrid ‘to push’ for his signing, suggesting that a potential effort could be on the cards.
Of course, the claim should be taken with a pinch of salt given the nature of the source, but given Madrid were interested in the past and Saliba has been widely regarded as the next Varane, there could be some truth to it.
Arsenal are unlikely to even consider any approach, especially given they only signed him this summer, but that’s unlikely to stop Madrid if this interest is genuine.
