Arsenal Transfer News: Arsenal are set to make the second signing of their season as they are closing on to sign William Saliba from Ligue 1.
Arsenal are looking for reinforcements ahead of the next season, especially in the defense, since underwhelming performances last season has propelled Arsenal to make transformations.
Furthermore, the departure of Laurent Koscielny from Arsenal, makes a vacancy for a defender at the North London club. Thus, Arsenal have been able to find a suitable candidate for the job.
According to a report by the Goal, Arsenal are set to sign William Saliba from Saint-Etienne after agreeing a deal in the region of £26.5 million for the defender.
It is the second bid by Arsenal for Saliba, as they made an improvement in the offer after getting to know that Tottenham were also in the contention for the 18-year-old defender.
Furthermore, the report claims that Saliba will be spending another season at the Ligue 1 club on loan after Arsenal signs him. Saint-Etienne reportedly insisted that the deal would not take place unless he spent another year at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
The Gunners ultimately agreed to avoid the risk of losing another top rated talent to another European giant in this window. Further, the North London club believe that Saliba playing regularly in the Ligue 1 will ensure that he is ready to be in the Premier league.
Talks over the deal progressed significantly over the weekend – with both clubs now thrashing out the final details of the transfer, which will be Arsenal’s second of the summer window following the arrival of Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli.
The negotiations between the two clubs have been tough, as the English giants are buying their targets at a slim budget. Moreover, given the player will not join before the next summer, the Gunner are not ready to commit intensively.
How twitter reacted
https://twitter.com/saliba_william/status/1148280973504733184
William #Saliba to Arsenal is essentially complete. #Arsenal and ASSE have reached an agreement of around €30M. Whilst both clubs are still discussing transfer bonuses, the player has already agreed with Arsenal. #RMCsport
— Mohamed Bouhafsi (@mohamedbouhafsi) July 8, 2019
Did adidas again leaked the news of we signing Saliba???#arsenal #afc #adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/SyFNRAMnUs
— Akshit Redij (@aks_gunner) July 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/FiGenesis/status/1148569435751485440
Reports claim that Unai Emery seriously wanted William Saliba even though the club was hesitating over signing someone who won't be here next season, perhaps the boss won't leave at the end of next season. #Afc #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/eFTLJZvWb2
— Arsenal True Fans (@arsenal_true) July 9, 2019
Saliba is a gift for whoever the next Arsenal manager is. Kudos to Emery for pulling the trigger knowing full well he could be out of this job in 10 months (highly unlikely, unless we absolutely shit the bed this year)
— Julian (@JH4AFC) July 9, 2019
What’s next?
Arsenal are set to play at the Premier league-Asia cup and will face West Ham in the first match.
