William Saliba is actively pushing for a transfer to Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants now considering a move for their long-term defensive target before the current transfer window closes.

According to Marca, signing a top-level centre-back remains a high priority for Real Madrid, despite the recent arrival of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. Concerns over the team’s defensive vulnerabilities—particularly highlighted during the Club World Cup—have prompted the club to re-evaluate their timeline for strengthening at the back.

Saliba Ready to Make Financial Sacrifice

Madrid have long identified Saliba as their preferred candidate to anchor the defence for years to come. While a deal was initially expected to wait until 2026, when Saliba enters the final year of his contract with Arsenal, recent developments may accelerate the timeline.

Marca reports that Saliba is willing to lower his wage demands in order to make the transfer happen this summer. The 24-year-old is yet to sign a contract extension with Arsenal, where his current deal runs until 2027, putting the Gunners in a difficult negotiating position.

World-Record Fee on the Table?

Madrid president Florentino Pérez is said to have already given the green light for an aggressive push to sign Saliba, who could potentially become the most expensive defender in football history. That would mean surpassing the €87 million fee Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019.

RMC has also confirmed Madrid’s willingness to go “all in” for Saliba, underlining how highly he is rated by the club’s hierarchy. With the French international reportedly open to the move, and his contractual situation unresolved, this summer could present a rare window of opportunity.

Key Figure at Arsenal

Since joining Arsenal from Saint-Étienne in 2019 for £27 million, Saliba’s rise has been steady and impressive. After early loan spells in France, he became a central figure under Mikel Arteta starting from the 2022–23 season, helping Arsenal to back-to-back second-place finishes in the Premier League.

Now a first-choice defender for the French national team, Saliba played a crucial role in their run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals, and was also part of the squad that reached the 2022 World Cup final. To date, he has 134 appearances and seven goals for Arsenal, as well as 28 caps for France.

His defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhães is widely regarded as one of the strongest in the Premier League, making a potential departure a major blow to Arsenal’s ambitions.