Overview

• With David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger in the final year of their contracts, Real Madrid are preparing to add at least one centre-back for summer 2026.
• William Saliba is no longer a target after agreeing a new contract with Arsenal.
• Ibrahima Konaté remains on Madrid’s shortlist, his Liverpool deal expires next June, and reports differ on the likelihood of him signing fresh terms.
• Intermediaries have alerted Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City that Konaté could be available for nothing next summer, according to TBR Football.
• Madrid are also tracking RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba as an alternative, though his contract runs to 2029 and a transfer would be costly.