Arsenal 'earmark William Saliba replacement' as £80m Man City, Liverpool battle emerges

Los Blancos are expected to intensify their efforts to sign a new centre-back next year in the wake of Eder Militao's second serious knee injury, which will keep him out for the rest of the season.

David Alaba is also yet to return from the ACL issue he suffered this time last year, and Saliba is thought to be high on Real's list of potential signings, alongside Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero.

Arsenal will no doubt fight tooth and nail to fend off interest in Saliba, who has established a reputation as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and signed a new deal at the Emirates last summer, meaning that he is not due to become a free agent until 2027.

However, the Gunners are supposedly making contingency plans in case of his departure, and according to TBRFootball, Arsenal chiefs have taken a serious liking to Saliba's compatriot Lukeba.

Lukeba scouted by 'every top club in England'

The 21-year-old came through the Lyon youth system before being sold to RB Leipzig for £25m in the summer of 2023, since when he has scored once in 53 appearances for Die Roten Bullen.

Lukeba is one of the first names on the Leipzig team sheet when fully fit, and he was also part of the France Olympic team that won the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games under Thierry Henry, starting every match at the tournament.

The 6ft defender has not made another appearance for the senior team since his debut in October 2023, but it is considered only a matter of time before he becomes a fully-fledged member of Didier Deschamps's Bleus setup.

Arsenal will have a serious battle on their hands to prise Lukeba away from Leipzig, though, as the report claims that 'every top club in England' has scouted the left-footed youngster over the past year.

Manchester City and Liverpool will therefore be among Arsenal's rivals for the signature of Lukeba, while Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have inevitably been named as possible suitors too.

How much would Arsenal need to pay for Lukeba?

Even if the Gunners can jump to the head of the queue over the plethora of other interested clubs, they will run into significant opposition from Leipzig themselves, who are protected by Lukeba's contract situation.

The France international is tied down to Die Roten Bullen until 2029, and his deal is also believed to include a release clause of £80m, which Leipzig are demanding is paid in full if he is to depart.

Such a fee would represent the joint-biggest transfer for a defender in history, level with the £80m that Manchester United paid Leicester City to sign Harry Maguire five years ago.

Arsenal could free up space for Lukeba by offloading one of their current out-of-favour defenders in Jakub Kiwior, although it will reportedly take a 'large cheque' for the Gunners to let the Pole leave in 2025.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is also an interesting one to watch heading into the New Year, as the Japan international's contract expires in 2026, and he has only played once in the current campaign due to injury.