Euro Paper Talk: Arsenal agree Keita style €30m defender deal and turn focus to PSG star
Arsenal have agreed an unusual deal to sign a Ligue 1 defender and will now turn focus towards the capture of a PSG star, while a Eintracht Frankfurt striker has discussed links to Manchester United, according to Monday’s European papers.
ARSENAL AGREE SALIBA DEAL, TURN ATTENTION TO NKUNKU
Arsenal are reported to have agreed a deal with St Etienne for defender William Saliba – but the teenage defender won’t be making the move to Emirates Stadium this summer.
Gunners boss Unai Emery was hoping to bring the 18-year-old to north London with immediate effect, but the Ligue 1 side’s determination to keep the player has led to a compromise arrangement between the sides.
According to reports in France, as per the London Evening Standard, Arsenal will pay around €30m for Saliba, with talks now ongoing between the clubs about the breakdown of those payments.
And while a move to Arsenal is expected to go through, the deal will be delayed until next summer – with Arsenal securing the player on a delayed deal in much the same way Liverpool did when they agreed to sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig in 2018.
And staying at St Etienne for another season was always on Saliba’s mind as their club’s president Roland Romeyer 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.”
As such, Arsenal are expected to give St Etienne a very small downpayment this summer, with the rest of the payments to be agreed.
The delayed deal will instead allow Arsenal to turn their focus back towards PSG midfielder Christopher Nkunku.
The Gunners are long-standing admirers of the young PSG midfielder, but were thought to have missed out when he Leipzig agreed a €15m fee for his services.
However, with the deal yet to go through, L’Equipe claims the player is holding out for a switch to Emirates Stadium instead, with Emery poised to swoop.
Get the latest personalised Arsenal products on our new TEAMtalk Gunners shop!
AND THE REST
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Sebastien Haller has distanced himself from talk he could be targeted by Man Utd or West Ham (Kicker)
Real Madrid have set a €30m price for Arsenal and Inter target Lucas Vazquez, although no concrete offers have arrived yet (Marca)
Talks between Inter Milan and Roma over a deal for Edin Dzeko have stalled (Sky Italia)
Atletico Madrid have been linked with a summer move for Napoli midfielder and Spain Under-21 star Fabian Ruiz (AS)
Real Betis goalkeeper Pau Lopez will join Roma on July 8 for an initial €20m fee, after completing a medical with the Serie A side (Sky Italia)
Gianluigi Donnarumma has told AC Milan he wants to stay at the club this summer amid links to PSG and Manchester United (Calciomercato)
Veteran Brazil captain Dani Alves is considering offers from former side Barcelona and Atletico Madrid this summer (Globe Esporte)
James Rodriguez would prefer to join Atletico Madrid than Napoli this summer as he plots an escape from Real Madrid (AS)
Lucas Paqueta has ruled out a move away from AC Milan and is excited about the prospect of playing under new coach Marco Giampaolo (Tuttomercatoweb)
Manchester United will ask for Vinicius Junior if Real Madrid make an official approach for Paul Pogba this summer (Diario Gol)
Man Utd are yet to make a bid for long-term target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who has an offer from PSG (Gazzetta Dello Sport)
Mauro Icardi is house-hunting in Napoli as he considers a €10m-a-year proposal from Carlo Ancelotti’s side, while Lorenzo Insigne could move the other way (Corriere Dello Sport/Tuttosport)
Schalke are close to signing Atalanta defender Robin Gosens, with the price tag set at €12m (Gazzetta Dello Sport)