Real Madrid set sights on €120 million-rated Arsenal midfield superstar – report | OneFootball

According to TEAMtalk (h/t Bernabeu Digital), Real Madrid have their sights set on Arsenal midfield superstar Declan Rice as they plan for the future.

The Arsenal and England ace is understood to have plenty of admirers within the Spanish capital club, with influential figures believing he should be one of their main targets to strengthen the midfield.

Real Madrid want a midfielder

It is no secret that Real Madrid have been looking to strengthen their midfield with a top-quality addition.

The Merengues are, in particular, looking for someone who can provide control and help dictate tempo from the centre.

Rodri, therefore, had emerged as the priority target, but he opted to join Barcelona instead this summer. And, Real Madrid decided not to sign anyone, instead banking on Bernardo Silva to operate in a deeper role.

Rice on Real Madrid’s radar. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

But now, Rice is understood to have emerged as a potential target with an eye on the future.

As per the report, manager Jose Mourinho is said to be a major admirer of the 27-year-old England international and the qualities he could bring to the Real Madrid midfield.

If he arrives, Rice would offer Real Madrid a combination of physicality, leadership, ball recovery and technical quality after having established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading midfielders, playing a key role Arsenal’s title-winning campaign.

Arsenal working on renewal

Any move would be extremely difficult, however.

Arsenal consider Rice one of the central pieces of Mikel Arteta’s project and are already preparing a new contract for him, despite his current deal running until 2028, which also has an option for an additional year.

Arsenal keen on extending Rice’s contract. (Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images)

The initial signs in London are positive, with Arsenal confident of reaching an agreement to extend his stay and secure his future.

For now, Real Madrid have not yet launched an offensive for Rice, but the midfielder is firmly on Real Madrid’s radar, and Mourinho’s admiration for him could become an important factor if the Spanish giants decide to pursue him in 2027.

For Arsenal, that interest represents an increasingly significant threat to their plans to keep one of their most important players.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.