Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with William Saliba ahead of a potential move next summer, but should the club be looking to fast track the deal?
Reports on Get French Football News cite Foot Mercato’s story that the Gunners have beaten the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United to the Frenchman’s signature, who is said to be putting pen to paper on a five-year deal with the London club.
However, the report also relays L’Equipe’s belief that Saliba will remain with his current club for the 2019/20 season on a one-year loan deal, as per the demands of St. Etienne.
Twitter: Arsenal agree provisional contract with William Saliba, but all parties agree that a potential deal would see the p… https://t.co/TZ7jQtEXoC (@GFFN)
While that part of the transfer makes sense for the Ligue 1 club and the development of the player, it could be a problem for Arsenal with their defensive issues still left needing to be fixed next year. So, should Unai Emery be trying to get Saliba in now?
One of the main criticisms of Arsenal in 2018/19 was their defence, which conceded 51 goals in the Premier League.
None of Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis or Laurent Koscielny covered themselves in glory and their frustrating displays have led to many calls for new faces to be brought in.
It would make sense for changes to be made in the hope that somebody can have a transformative effect on the Gunners’ backline as they look to make it back into the top four.
Saliba was a player who showed plenty of potential last season, contributing to nine clean sheets in just 16 league appearances, so he could be someone who comes in and makes an immediate difference despite his youthful age.
It is also likely Saliba will take a sizeable chunk out of Emery’s limited transfer funds too, so can he or the club really afford to spend money on a player who wouldn’t pull on a red and white shirt for another 12 months when improvements are needed now?
You would think not, so it would surely be in Arsenal’s best interests to ensure he is brought into the squad this summer.
On the other hand, he is only 18-years-old and has played just 19 first-team games, so maybe leaving him where he is to gain more experience and continue his progression would benefit all parties.
Rob Holding will be returning back to full health and he was one of Arsenal’s best performers before injury prematurely ended his season. If he can recapture his form and fitness quickly, he could be just what Arsenal need.
Of course, relying on Holding getting back to that level is a risk, but he deserves a chance to prove himself and attempt to sure up the defence ahead of Saliba’s arrival.
The reports from France suggest Saliba will have to stay at St. Etienne for another year as a part of any deal, but it would be worth Arsenal exploring the possibility of him joining earlier as they look to bolster their defensive options.
