Real Madrid has made Arsenal's center-back William Saliba their "absolute priority" for the upcoming summer transfer window, according to RMC Sport. The Spanish giants are looking to strengthen their defense, though Arsenal has indicated they have no intention of letting the 23-year-old French international depart without commanding a record-breaking fee that would surpass Harry Maguire's £78.3 million transfer to Manchester United in 2019.
In parallel, Real Madrid is also pursuing Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi, with The Athletic reporting that discussions have already taken place with the player's representatives. The 26-year-old Spanish midfielder, who previously turned down a £50 million move to Liverpool, is seen as a potential successor to Luka Modric at the Bernabéu.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha has attracted attention from several Premier League clubs, with the Daily Mail revealing his release clause is set at £62 million. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs monitoring the 25-year-old Brazilian's situation, with the clause becoming active this summer.
In other transfer developments, Juventus is planning contract negotiations with Weston McKennie, aiming to secure the 26-year-old's services until 2028. Former France international Paul Pogba, currently a free agent, is reportedly favoring a stay in European football despite receiving offers from Saudi Pro League and MLS clubs, with Marseille showing interest in the midfielder who was released by Juventus in November.
ESPN's Alex Kirkland provides insight into the Zubimendi situation, noting that the midfielder's future could be one of the summer's biggest transfer stories. While Arsenal reportedly leads the race for his signature, with manager Mikel Arteta's Basque connection and the presence of former teammates Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino potentially working in their favor, Kirkland emphasizes that "there are very, very few Spanish players who turn down Madrid when given the chance."
In other news, both Manchester clubs are showing interest in Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, while AC Milan is working to secure permanent deals for Roma's Tammy Abraham and Chelsea's João Felix. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has addressed speculation about his future, stating, "What the future brings, at the moment, I've got no idea. So anyone who says they know it, they are absolutely wrong."
The Premier League is set to discuss potential changes to transfer windows, including shortening the January window to two weeks and closing the summer window before the season begins. Additionally, Manchester City's previous interest in Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso has been confirmed by the player's agent, with reports suggesting a potential bid of around €65 million was considered last month.
