Brazil forward Rodrygo Goes is among the unsettled Real Madrid players amid a squad overhaul ahead of Xabi Alonso taking charge. Rodrygo Goes is expected to leave Real Madrid after the Club World Cup as his place in the team is no longer secure with Carlo Ancelotti leaving the Santiago Bernabeu. An earlier report claimed that Xabi Alonso has informed Real Madrid’s decision-makers that Rodrygo, like Ferland Mendy and Luka Modric, is unlikely to be a regular starter in his project.
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Attack is an area in which Madrid got talent to spare with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Endrick and Vinicius Jr. Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham and Brahim Diaz are also capable of concentrating on goal-scoring objectives if needed, making 24-year-old Rodrygo dispensable. Meanwhile, the injury-battered defence department needs immediate reinforcements and the midfield lacks versatility. A holding playmaker with Toni Kroos-like capabilities and full-backs with an attacking intent remain the priorities for Real Madrid, who are linked with at least two more players after bringing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen on board from England.
William Saliba, another Premier League sensation, has also been linked to Real Madrid for some time now. Despite being a mainstay at Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, Real is said to be the only team which could make Saliba consider leaving England. The right-footed Frenchman is rated among the best defenders in the world with incredible physical attributes and ball distribution capability.
The Gunners have struggled to win a silverware due to the lack of firepower up front. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have proven to be inconsistent and Arteta was forced to use Mikel Merino as a make-shift forward towards the end of the season. It was against this backdrop that a swap deal between Real Madrid and Arsenal came into the picture.
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While Arteta considers Saliba one of the true gems of his expensive squad, the manager was reportedly willing to let him join Real if Rodrygo was handed in return. A proven goalscorer is the need of the hour for Arsenal and they could afford to sacrifice Saliba if somebody of Rodrygo's profile is made available, Arteta was reportedly convinced.
Since both Saliba and Rodrygo are youngsters, a direct swap deal could be completed if both teams are on board. However, it is unlikely to happen as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is of the opinion such a move is a steal for Arsenal. Saliba's current contract with the London club will run out in a couple of years, and if he decides against inking a new deal, the Frenchman's market rate is certain to fall, Perez believes. Rodrygo, on the other hand, is an expensive star as his current contract with Real runs out only on June 30, 2028.
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Multiple Saudi Pro League (SPL) teams have already lined up with their heavy purses to snatch him. Also in the mix of things is Arsenal's English rivals Manchester City and France's PSG. When most of these teams are likely to bid €80 to €100 million for Rodrygo, Perez is unlikely to let him go for Saliba's services alone. Thus, Real Madrid are unlikely to take the conversation forward, if a big sum is not part of the talks, Spanish media defensacentral.com claimed.