Real Madrid has a ‘genuine and tactical’ interest in Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and will pursue the winger under one condition, as Florentino Perez prepares a ‘galactic’ £187m dual deal.
The president of Los Blancos was witnessing his team's lackluster elimination by Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, and a rare mistake from William Saliba seemingly did not deter him from pursuing the French player's acquisition.
It has been reported that Madrid have identified Saliba – valued at €100m (£84m) by the Gunners – as their primary target this summer, and a report on Friday stated that Perez has reached an ‘agreement’ with Arsenal's management, which will guarantee the La Liga club the right of first refusal if Arsenal chooses to sell Saliba before his contract ends.
According to the report:
Indeed, Florentino Pérez obtained from Arsenal a verbal agreement stating that if they ever choose to sell the French player (who is contracted until 2027), for whatever reason, they will first inform the Santiago Bernabéu stadium of this choice and, at that point, the merengue club will determine if they are interested in the player or not.
‘This deal with the gunners doesn’t really signify much, but at least it represents a means to have ‘controlled’ the player with his club’s consent, as William Saliba has consistently been monitored by Juni Calafat, particularly given that he is among the top defenders in global soccer and his age suggests his performance will continue to improve, thus Real Madrid aims to keep him in their sights.'
However, Perez’s attention was also captured by Saka, as the Gunners winger netted the first goal at the Bernabeu, leaving 'a lasting impression on the Madrid board, who now have him prioritized on their wish list should one of their standout wingers, Rodrygo or Vinicius, depart,' as reported by Todo Fichajes.
Perez views Saka as the perfect fit to uphold the competitive standard of the white attack if either Rodrygo or Vinicius Junior departs the club this summer.
Vinicius remains strongly associated with Saudi Arabia, as Pro League teams intend to present ‘astronomical offers’ for the Brazilian, while contract discussions with Madrid have reached a ‘standstill due to salary discrepancies’.
The report states that Rodrygo has ‘been approached by Liverpool and Manchester City’ and despite his desire to remain in Madrid, it’s believed that the competition for a place in the squad with Kylian Mbappe and Kendrick might ‘drive him to seek playing time’ elsewhere.
Regarding Saka, the report states:
Should the transfer of Rodrygo or Vinicius be finalized, Real Madrid will invest significantly in Saka, as he aligns seamlessly with the new project alongside Mbappé, Bellingham, and others. Florentino and José Ángel Sánchez have already approved a deal that may surpass 120 million euros, understanding that the English player would be a star and high-profile acquisition for the next ten years.
To summarize: Real Madrid's pursuit of Saka is genuine and tactic-based, and his transfer to the Bernabéu will be directly influenced by the prospects of his Brazilian wingers. Following his performance in the Champions League, Saka has secured a prestigious position on the white agenda.
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