Saint-Etienne have confirmed that highly rated Frenchman William Saliba will sign for Arsenal, though will remain with them (on loan) in the upcoming season.
The Reds from North-London were said to be in pole position to acquire services of he 18-year-old after submitting a €30 million (£27m) offer to Saint-Etienne earlier this summer, until city rivals interfered with an attempt to hijack the move at the very last second when they bettered Arsenal’s offer complemented by a better terms for Saliba. But the Gunners were swift to come up with an healthier offer of €33m (£29.8m) fee plus a further €7m (£6.3m) in add-ons.
And after much of saga in North London, Saint-Etienne’s president Bernard Caiazzo has confirmed that William Saliba will be heading to the Emirates this summer, though only to complete the transfer proceedings BUT will be continuing his development Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for the upcoming campaign.
“Everything is on the right track with Arsenal,” Caiazzo told Le Progres.
“William will play next season with us.”
Saliba is seen as long-term heir to Club captain Laurent Koscielny, who is probably heading out after going on strike just before the players boarded flight to United States for preseason.
Unai Emery is also said to complete signing of Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid at some-point next week after the Spaniards contract terms were released by Metro couple of days back.
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