Rio Ferdinand has backed William Saliba to be the "best defender in the world" within the next three years. The Arsenal centre-back produced another excellent performance during their 2-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday, scoring and helping his side to a fourth successive victory.
Saliba has been a virtual ever-present in the Arsenal defence this season, starting all-but-one of their Premier League matches. The only one the Frenchman missed was the 2-2 draw with Liverpool when he was suspended, but apart from that, he has been a crucial member of their defensive unit.
And Saliba has since been praised by ex-United defender Ferdinand, who has claimed that the France international will be the best on the planet once Virgil van Dijk's level drops - though he has warned that 19-year-old sensation Leny Yoro could be a fierce competitor for that accolade in the coming seasons.
"I think he's [Saliba] going to be the best defender in the world," Ferdinand said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. "Saliba will be the best defender in the world when Virgil van Dijk gives up that post.
"As soon as that happens, it could be in a year, it could be three years. Whenever it’s going to be I don’t see anyone else taking over. The only person I see, the person who I think will rival him and it will be close is Leny Yoro.
"To be injured and to come in and it’s not even do quite well… he got in two situations one vs one on the edge of the box on his own and dealt with them both really well.
"To go back to Saliba, he looks imposing. Rasmus Hojlund is probably still trying to fight his way out of his pocket now. It was like a man against a boy. I want to see Rasmus Hojlund improve in those situations, in those one vs ones.
"And I can say the same about [Erling] Haaland, when Haaland comes up agaisnt a Van Dijk, against a Saliba-type guy, I want to see him bully the life out of them as well, I was to see him hurt them and put punches in those guys, not just flat-track bullies.
"Saliba looked clean, confident, classy, strong, elegant. Everything you’d want in a centre-half and it was great just to see another centre-half, a young one, come on who is two or three years behind in adjusting to the Premier League and come on and look so clean in the defensive situations where if you’re going to be a top team you need someone in the back line, at least one of them, who can go one vs one with anyone on the pitch."
Saliba has been a revelation since returning from his loan spell at Marseille ahead of the 2022/23 season. He made 33 appearances in his first full campaign with the Arsenal senior squad before missing the last eight weeks with a back problem - an injury that proved to be pivotal in their Premier League title bid.
The 23-year-old recovered from that issue and played in all but two matches for the Gunners across all competitions last season. As a reward for another superb campaign, Saliba was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the second straight year. Despite this, it wasn't enough to help Arsenal win the title.