Real Madrid centre-back Antonio Rudiger has admitted his interest in playing alongside William Saliba at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Saliba has enjoyed several excellent years in Arsenal’s defence and has found himself linked to European heavyweights Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, both of whom are expected to be in the market for a new defender in the near future.

If it was up to Rudiger, Saliba would make the move to Madrid.

Asked who he would sign to play alongside him in a dream centre-back partnership, Rudiger told The Inside Scoop: “Saliba.

“I’m happy with my centre-back partner, [Eder] Militao, because he is also capable, very strong, he’s getting back to his best after a big injury, but there are so many games and you have to rotate, so to have Saliba would be great.

“If he continues to do what he does… I’m not trying to scare [Arsenal fans] but, at the end of the day, it’s clear that if he does what he does…”

Rudiger went on to name Saliba as one of the top three centre-backs in the world alongside Arsenal teammate Gabriel.

“I will not give an order,” Rudiger stressed. “Saliba, Virgil van Dijk and… I like Gabriel from Arsenal, he is really pushing.

“I’ll leave the comparing to you, but in general, I just enjoy, for example if you see Arsenal, the two centre-backs playing together, they’ve been doing an amazing job for two years now. The transformation from the Arsenal that was a bit before to now, those two are the pillars of it, Gabriel and Saliba.

“Gabriel is the more aggressive leader, and Saliba… this brother plays clean. You have to give it to him. He looks like a silent leader, and I like that.”

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD