Arsenal have provided a big injury update on defender William Saliba.
The Frenchman was recently at the World Cup, where he sustained a back injury against Spain in the semi-final. He was replaced by Maxence Lacroix in the 30th minute.
Initial claims suggested that Saliba may require surgery for the setback. While that has been avoided, Arsenal have now confirmed that he will commence a managed recovery programme.
The Gunners added that the 25-year-old is expected to be out of action for an ‘extended period‘, which is a huge blow for the club ahead of the new Premier League season next month.
Arsenal likely to pursue new centre-back after Saliba blow
Saliba has been a pivotal figure for the Gunners in the heart of the defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes. They were instrumental in ending the club’s 22-year wait for the Premier League crown.
His absence during the first half of next season leaves a big void to fill. Arsenal appear to be planning for the same and are looking at the transfer market for a quality and experienced centre-back.
Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa has emerged as the top target for the Gunners, and manager Mikel Arteta is driving the club’s pursuit. However, he won’t come on the cheap, with a £60 million price tag.
That is a huge outlay for the Englishman, who will be 29 in October, but the Gunners may have to come close to Villa’s valuation, given the inflated deals during the ongoing summer transfer window.
Konsa is a fantastic ball-playing centre-back and had a passing accuracy of 95 percent last term. He was also efficient in duels and had a success rate of almost 70 percent over the league season.
With his vast English top-flight experience, the 28-year-old could seamlessly fit into Arsenal’s backline. It is left to be seen whether the Gunners are prepared to pay a sizeable fee to convince Villa to sell him.
Stats from Sofascore