Arsenal launch opening bid to gazump rivals to Ligue 1 sensation Arsenal have reportedly placed an opening bid of for Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba in an attempt to beat rivals Spurs to his signature. Unai Emery is understandably eager to bolster his rearguard this summer, as the Gunners conceded the second-most goals of any side in the top six last season. On Tuesday reports claimed that Arsenal ‘already agree with the player’ over a transfer for Saliba, despite reports Spurs have joined the race at the last minute. Journalist David Ornstein told BBC Radio 5 Live.“Arsenal, as we know, also want a central defender. It’s emerged that William Saliba from Saint-Etienne is one of their options. “The suggestion is he’d be loaned back for a season which wouldn’t be ideal as they need a centre-half now. There’s no confirmation on that but talks are ongoing.” Now, a report from the Daily Mirror suggests that the interest is in fact concrete and that an opening bid of £22.5million has been launched by Arsenal. Saint-Etienne for their part apparently value Saliba at closer to £27m and feel no pressure to sell given that he has four years remaining on his current deal. A number of players could be moved on this summer to free funds for Emery to work with, including Shkodran Mustafi and Mesut Ozil. Due to a limited summer budget believed to be in the region of £45m, Arsenal are targeting young players with high potential that can be developed, with Celtic’s Kieran Tierney also linked. Get the latest personalised Arsenal products on our new TEAMtalk Gunners shop! The post Arsenal launch opening bid to gazump rivals to Ligue 1 sensation appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Arsenal have reportedly placed an opening bid of for Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba in an attempt to beat rivals Spurs to his signature.

Unai Emery is understandably eager to bolster his rearguard this summer, as the Gunners conceded the second-most goals of any side in the top six last season.

On Tuesday reports claimed that Arsenal ‘already agree with the player’ over a transfer for Saliba, despite reports Spurs have joined the race at the last minute.

Journalist David Ornstein told BBC Radio 5 Live.“Arsenal, as we know, also want a central defender. It’s emerged that William Saliba from Saint-Etienne is one of their options.

“The suggestion is he’d be loaned back for a season which wouldn’t be ideal as they need a centre-half now. There’s no confirmation on that but talks are ongoing.”

Now, a report from the Daily Mirror suggests that the interest is in fact concrete and that an opening bid of £22.5million has been launched by Arsenal.

Saint-Etienne for their part apparently value Saliba at closer to £27m and feel no pressure to sell given that he has four years remaining on his current deal.

A number of players could be moved on this summer to free funds for Emery to work with, including Shkodran Mustafi and Mesut Ozil.

Due to a limited summer budget believed to be in the region of £45m, Arsenal are targeting young players with high potential that can be developed, with Celtic’s Kieran Tierney also linked.

 

Get the latest personalised Arsenal products on our new TEAMtalk Gunners shop!

 

The post Arsenal launch opening bid to gazump rivals to Ligue 1 sensation appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Oli Fisher