According to a report by Daily Post on Monday, 8 June, 2026, new Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, is eyeing two player from the English Premier League.
Mourinho told senior officials at the Spanish club that the team’s defence is their weakness.
Marca reports that the former FC Porto, Chelsea and Manchester United manager wants to build a more solid, reliable defense with sufficient option to face a long season.
Jose Mourinho strongly admires Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol and Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori , as he want a defense capable of adapting to different scenarios.
His idea involves combining full backs with complimentary profiles:one with a more attacking focus the other with a stronger defensive presence, a formula that help him to modify the team’s formation and roles according to the needs of each match.
Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori is currently under a 5 year contract with the North London side that runs until June 30, 2029.
The Italian international join Arsenal from Serie A side Bologna in July, 2024 for an initial fee of £33.6 million which can rise to £42 million with add-ons.
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol is currently under contract with Manchester City until June, 30, 2028, earning an estimated base salary of £9.1 million per year.
The club has offered him a lucrative long term contract extension to secure his future amid interest from many European clubs, with negotiations progressing positively.
Arsenal won the Premier League title this season with 84 points and played in the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, while Manchester City finish this season as runners up in the English Premier League.