Ancelotti has personally targeted Real Madrid's £86 million Arsenal star

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has his eyes on Arsenal's £86 million star Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal are preparing for a busy summer transfer window

Sporting director Edu looks set to oversee a busy summer transfer window at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners set to overhaul several key areas of Arteta's squad.

The north Londoners' defense could look a little different next season, as Arsenal are believed to be set to replace goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after his season was relegated to the bench in favor of David Raya.

Standard Sport also claim that Arsenal will look to bring in another defender. Ben White has shone at right-back under Arteta again this season, but they are believed to be keen to find a natural full-back option in the side.

Girona defender Yan Couto has been linked with Arsenal this week, along with Turkey international Ferdi Kadioglu before him, and it has not been ruled out that they will bring in a new defender. Sporting Lisbon star Ousmane Diomande is rumored to be a target for Edu in the matter, but he will find it very difficult to play his way into the first team if he joins.

The Ivory Coast ace has both Gabriel and William Saliba ahead of him in the pecking order, with the Arsenal duo forming an excellent partnership from the start of 2022/2023. Spending the season before on loan at Marseille, few expected the Frenchman to come in and become so important.

Saliba is now a key member of Arteta's starting eleven, playing every league game this term, and many point to his injury at the end of last season as a key reason why Arsenal lost the title to Man City that year.

The 23-year-old's form has not been seen across Europe, and Ancelotti is now believed to have a personal interest.

Ancelotti is heading to Real Madrid to look for Saliba

According to CaughtOffside, Ancelotti likes Saliba and Real Madrid are looking for a move, but they will be disappointed. Arsenal have no intention of selling their centre-back, who is valued at around £86 million, and are also set to extend his contract to tie up the forward.

“His attitude, the way he came in, he said I'm going to prove myself that I'm very good and I deserve to be here,” said Arteta about Saliba's good form in the last two years.

“Without looking back or being shy, he was doing it the right way and giving the right reasons to think that he would be really good for us. He made an immediate impact. The first two home training sessions we attended: There is a lot of energy here.

“He removed all the question marks we could have and gave us all the reasons to play him. And I think he's been different since that day.”