How Real Madrid could line up under Mikel Arteta with Spaniard raiding Arsenal for three stars
REAL MADRID are reportedly looking to make Mikel Arteta their next manager.
And the Spaniard could raid Arsenal for three superstars should he replace Carlo Ancelotti this summer.
The current Los Blancos boss is under huge pressure after falling nine points behind Barcelona in the title race.
Real are still firmly in the Champions League hunt after a 5-2 drubbing of Liverpool two weeks ago.
But their shortcomings in LaLiga could cost Ancelotti his job at the end of the season.
And it’s reckoned Arteta is top of Real’s list as he potentially leads Arsenal to their first Premier League crown in almost 20 years.
Should the ex-Man City assistant wind up at the Bernabeu, he is likely to implement his tried-and-trusted 4-2-3-1 formation.
And Arteta, who signed a new Emirates deal last summer, would surely be tempted to try for three of Arsenal’s best players in the transfer market.
Thibaut Courtois is undoubtedly Real’s No1 between the sticks.
Eder Militao and David Alaba would provide defensive support on the flanks while also drifting into central midfield when the team’s in possession.
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Antonio Rudiger is another current Real star who would likely keep his place under Arteta.
But the ex-Chelsea star could find himself partnering William Saliba at the back.
Arsenal are keen to tie the French star down to a new contract following his brilliant season.
But Saliba will be mindful it took until his fourth year at the Emirates to finally break into the starting XI.
And he could jump at the chance to join Arteta in the Spanish capital.
Real’s midfield would likely see the biggest overhaul as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric approach the end of their careers.
Aurelian Tchouameni’s presence is already a given, while it’s believed Real want to beat Liverpool in the race for Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham.
And Arteta could complete a new-look trio by bringing Martin Odegaard back to the club.
The Norwegian was famously snapped up by Real when he was just 14 years old but failed to make a proper impact.
Odegaard has transformed into a star player at Arsenal, even taking the captaincy.
And with just two years left on his deal, the playmaker could be tempted by a second spell at Real to put things right.
Up top, Arteta knows it would be madness to drop either Karim Benzema or Vinicius Jr.
But with Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard set to leave this summer, and Rodrygo yet to fully settle, he may want a new right winger.
And there would be no better fit than Bukayo Saka, who is now one of the Premier League’s best players.
Like Saliba, he too is in contract talks with Arsenal over a lucrative extension.
But the chance to play for Arteta in Real’s famous white kit could also be too good to turn down.