"Will give you 10 more years of service" - Pundit urges Real Madrid to snub move for Ronaldo's Al-Nassr teammate and sign PL star
Former Athletic Bilbao sporting director Rafael Alkorta has urged Real Madrid to avoid signing a centre-back in January. He believes Los Blancos should go all out to sign William Saliba from Arsenal next summer instead.
Speaking to Cadena SER, Alkorta claimed Real Madrid could consider Aymeric Laporte an emergency option in January. He added Los Blancos should target Saliba and pay €80 million for the Frenchman as it would guarantee them a decade of service.
"I wouldn't sign in January, I would wait and consider Aymeric Laporte as an option. Maybe you have to spend €80 million (£66.5m) on a guy like Saliba who will give you 10 more years of service. Madrid rarely make mistakes in that regard," he said via Metro.
Real Madrid are looking to sign a defender in the January window as they are short on options. Although David Alaba is expected back soon, Eder Militao is reportedly ruled out of the season with an ACL injury.
Arsenal told they need to be careful about Real Madrid's interest in William Saliba
Former Chelsea and Marseille striker Tony Cascarino told Arsenal they need to win the UEFA Champions League to keep William Saliba. He believes Real Madrid will lure away the Frenchman if the Gunners do not win trophies quickly.
He said on talkSPORT via Caught Offside:
"There are vultures in football hanging over football clubs all the time and trying to take their best players. There's no bigger vulture than Madrid – if they're after you then there's a good chance of it happening. It's not only convincing the player, but the agents get involved and the lure of Madrid. Look, winning and being successful is a great way of keeping players, it really is."
"Arsenal have to achieve that because Saliba is playing to the level of being a Madrid player but he's got to be convinced that Arsenal are going to be a successful and winning team. They need to be challenging to win the Champions League because that's what Madrid do so often," Cascarino added.
Real Madrid are also interested in signing Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer next summer. The Liverpool full-back is yet to pen a new deal at Anfield and is stalling talks amid interest from Los Blancos.