Real Madrid planning to use Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer strategy to poach another world-class Premier League player

Real Madrid are reportedly planning to replicate their transfer strategy for Trent Alexander-Arnold to sign another Premier League star this summer.

On Monday morning, Alexander-Arnold announced that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract on June 30.

It was reported later in the day by various outlets that he had verbally agreed to join reigning champions Real Madrid on a free transfer.

The move will unite him with England team-mate Jude Bellingham at club level, with Real in the market for a right-back following Dani Carvajal's ACL injury suffered last year.

But their rebuild reportedly will not stop there.

With manager Carlo Ancelotti also set to depart the club, as per The Athletic, Real are targeting another surprise new addition.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Los Blancos want to sign William Saliba from Arsenal to add much-needed additional quality at centre-back.

Antonio Rudiger has, at times, been Real's only senior experience in the position this season, with youngster Raul Asencio emerging through the ranks and both Eder Militao and David Alaba either suffering from or recovering from ACL injuries.

Their defensive depth was on full display during the 5-1 Champions League quarter-final aggregate defeat to Arsenal last month, which looks to have effectively cost Ancelotti his job.

Saliba has two years left on his existing contract, having signed a new four-year deal in July 2023.

However, Football Insider claim there are 'alarm bells ringing' at Arsenal over whether the France centre-back will extend his stay in north London.

And Romano reports that Real plan to wait for Saliba to open talks with the Gunners over a new contract, before then making a move for him 'when the opportunity arises'.

Losing Saliba would be a major blow to the Gunners, given his importance to the team and rock-solid central defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes developed over several seasons.

And with the possibility of a Champions League final on the way - Arsenal need to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit to PSG - manager Mikel Arteta will be keen to shut down any talk surrounding whether any of his key players departing the Emirates Stadium.