Arsenal has been dealt a big blow as one of their summer transfer targets looks set to join a rival Premier League team. Earlier this week, it was reported that Arsenal had agreed on a deal to sign young promising French center back William Saliba from Saint Etienne.
However, reports from France on Friday claimed that the player is now closer to joining Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The Gunners were prepared to loan the player back to the French club for the entirety of the 2019/2020 season.
Breaking | Tottenham have just outbid Arsenal for William Saliba, offering €30m excluding bonuses, which goes above & beyond Sainté’s demands. Les Verts are meeting tomorrow to discuss this situation! (RMC)
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) July 12, 2019
This will come as big blow for Unai Emery’s side who have completed just one signing so far in this transfer window: a 17-year-old Gabriel Martinelli from Brazil. The confirmation of former midfielder Edu as Techincal director might speed things up but it is not guaranteed.
To make matters worse for the Gunners, club captain Laurent Koscielny has gone on strike to force a move away from the club he has served for 9 years. The French center back refused to go on Arsenal’s pre-season tour to the United States on Thursday.
The club released a statement condemning the act and promised to take disciplinary action against the player which could see him stripped of his captaincy. Koscielny is said to have received an offer from Ligue 1 side, FC Bordeaux.
Koscielny is easily the best defender at Arsenal and should the Gunners lose him they could go into the new season with only 3 fit center backs. Factor in that one of the center backs is the error-prone Mustafi and Unai Emery has a real problem on his hands
Arsenal’s season has not yet begun but it is increasingly looking like a disaster in waiting…