Leeds United are reportedly showing interest in Arsenal defender William Saliba, according to French media outlet Le10Sport.
With only two days remaining until the summer transfer window closes, Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa is seemingly still keen to bolster his squad options, although the report added that Fulham are also keen on the £20.25m-valued centre-back.
Having lost Ben White over the summer as the defender returned from his loan to parent club Brighton and Hove Albion, the Argentine tactician has been left with few defensive options at centre back.
Liam Cooper, Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk and recently-signed Spaniard Diego Llorente are available but a new link to Saliba seems to suggest that Bielsa wants further assurance that he has enough options.
The French defender Saliba arrived at the Emirates Stadium back in the summer of 2019 but was instantly loaned back to Ligue 1 side Saint Etienne, and it now seems that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta wants to send the 19-year-old out on loan to gain more first team experience.
Once compared to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk by his former coach Jean-Luc Vannuchi, Saliba’s immediate future seems likely to end up with a loan move before Monday’s deadline.
Aside from reported interest in the Gunners defender, Bielsa is also targeting Todd Cantwell from Norwich City with personal terms said to have been agreed for the midfielder.
This would appear to be a good signing for Leeds, but you have to wonder if the Frenchman would get in the starting XI over a fully fit Cooper and Llorente, who was quite the transfer coup for the Whites.
Saliba, who was handed the number four shirt at Arsenal this summer, will want to play regularly this season to impress Mikel Arteta, who seemingly remains unconvinced at the present time.
With just a couple of days remaining in the transfer window, it will be interesting to see if a move to Elland Road goes any further than just a report.
Do you think Saliba would be a good signing for Leeds? Let us know your views in the comments section below…
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