**Arsenal may now “keep” defender Ben White following the back injury sustained by William Saliba, according to reports.**
Saliba could be [**sidelined until the end of 2026**](https://goonernews.com/blog/arsenal-injury-news-william-saliba-5/), and he will likely need surgery on a vertebra that he fractured two months ago.
White was set to leave the Emirates if a replacement could be found, but [_TEAMtalk_](https://www.teamtalk.com/arsenal/william-saliba-surgery-fears-berta-rethink-ezri-konsa-transfer-target) claim the Gunners are “inclined” to retain his services, whilst also bringing in another defender.
The London club have effectively been forced to change their summer transfer plans following the news that Saliba could be absent for a considerable length of time.
Arteta is a big fan of White
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Speaking back in 2022, manager Mikel Arteta paid the defender a huge compliment after deciding to deploy him as a right-back:
“I think he is really enjoying it. He finds himself with a bit of freedom, and you can see, when he has space, how he likes to attack. I think he is happy there. Physically he is a really special player. He is very intelligent and very gifted, and he has a lot of courage to play this game If you tell him to play in midfield, he will. And he will give his best.”
Despite White’s undoubted ability, though, he has faced mounting injury problems over the past couple of seasons, which prompted the club to contemplate selling him this summer.
Who could Arsenal sign to fill in for Saliba?
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It does appears as if Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa is the top target. The England international can play both as a centre-half and right-back, like White.
The main issue would be the asking price, which is said to be £60m. With talks also set to be held with Villa for recruiting one of Konsa’s teammates, Morgan Rogers, it is uncertain whether his club would sanction the sale of both players.