Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso is teeing up a move for two Premier League stars ahead of the season, it has been claimed.
Alonso is preparing for his maiden league campaign in charge of Los Blancos, having left Bayer Leverkusen to take charge of the La Liga giants ahead of last month’s Club World Cup.
Real are hoping to have a better campaign than the last, when they failed to win any major silverware upon being knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League and finishing runners up in the league and Copa del Rey.
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As per Marca, Real are looking to move on three squad players this summer - Rodrygo, Dani Ceballos and Fran Garcia.
Should they offload the trio, the Spanish publication alleged that the 15-time European champions will turn their attention to signing a new centre-back.
Real are said to be keen on signing Liverpool centre back Ibrahima Konate, given the France international’s contract expiring in June 2026.
Marca alleged that the La Liga giants “have already done the work needed” to acquire the defender next summer for free, in a similar manner to how they signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from the Reds this summer.
However, Real are said to be weighing up whether to make a move now or wait for the end of the upcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, the Spanish side are also reportedly interested in William Saliba, with the interest in the Arsenal star not thought to be hinging on whether Real can secure a move for Konate.
Yet, signing Saliba would reportedly be “huge, complicated and expensive” given the player has two years left on his contract in north London.
Of course, Arsenal will be keen to keep the France centre-back, with the club widely reported to have entered contact negotiations with the player.
Indeed, back in March Saliba said: "I'm really happy here. I've been here for two years and a half as well. There is nothing. I'm happy here and I want to continue here."
Topics: Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso, Premier League, Transfers, Football, Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba
Chris Byfield