Real Madrid want to sign Saliba and Konate for free | OneFootball

Real Madrid want a new centre-back this summer but will not pay for Arsenal’s William Saliba or Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate.

According to Marca, Madrid will wait for Saliba and Konate to enter the final year of their contracts before swooping.

Arsenal are trying to renew Saliba’s deal, which expires in 2027. Liverpool have held talks with Konate, whose case is more urgent as his contract expires at the end of next season.

The pair are two of the best defenders in the Premier League and play together for the French national team.

Saliba has been a mainstay for Arsenal. They held the best defensive record in the Premier League last season and are on course to repeat the trick this term.

The 24-year-old is reportedly holding out on a new deal to see if Arsenal can win silverware.

Konate, who has formed a sturdy pairing with stalwart Virgil Van Dijk, could be tempted to join Trent Alexander-Arnold in Madrid.

Arsenal and Liverpool are in precarious positions. Both defenders are elite talents, and signing them for free would be a masterstroke in the transfer market by Los Blancos.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta must persuade Saliba to renew his contract. The same goes for his Liverpool counterpart, Richard Hughes, with Konate.