Tottenham ready to pinch £26.5m Saliba by outbidding Arsenal
Tottenham are reportedly preparing to hijack Arsenal’s deal for Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba.
French outlet RMC claim that Spurs’ €30million offer for the young defender has surpassed the bid made by the Gunners.
The source claim that Saint-Etienne officials will meet on Saturday to discuss the offer and this latest news could well explain why Arsenal have not wrapped up a long-running deal for the 18-year-old.
Numerous outlets have reported that the Gunners are close to signing the centre-back, with Goal claiming Arsenal had agreed a deal in the region of £26.5million.
However, as yet nothing has been confirmed regarding the player, who Arsenal were set to loan back to his Ligue 1 club.
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
Arsenal boss Unai Emery was believed to have wanted Saliba for this season, but Saint-Etienne insisted that Saliba was loaned back for another season at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Staying at St Etienne for another season was always on Saliba’s mind as their club’s president Roland Romeyer recently explained: “He will stay at the club this season.
“It is an imperative condition should we come to an agreement for his transfer. It’s also William’s wish.”