Arsenal are reportedly seeking a new central defender this summer to provide cover after William Saliba aggravated a back injury while on international duty at the World Cup. The Gunners are close to completing the £75million signing of Bruno Guimaraes and are exploring a blockbuster deal for Vinicius Junior, but a defender is also a priority.
Saliba's Injury Woes
Saliba was substituted in France's semi-final defeat to Spain after going down injured, with new Chelsea signing Mazence Lacroix replacing him. France head coach Didier Deschamps did not risk Saliba in the third-place play-off against England, though he named the Arsenal defender on the bench.
Arsenal released a medical update four days after Saliba returned to London from the United States, confirming he is expected to miss part of the new season and will be sidelined for a prolonged spell as he undergoes a managed recovery programme. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners will bring in a new defender to cover for Saliba.
Deschamps' Comments
Deschamps revealed before France's final game that Saliba had been managing the injury since March. He said: "William Saliba got injured, and it's problematic. He went through some examinations, and the injury did not worsen. He has faced that injury since March; he had some pain, and unfortunately, the pain was not bearable".
Arsenal maintain that thorough assessments have determined that surgery is not required, and specialist evaluations established that the injury would necessitate a period of rehabilitation instead.
Previous Back Issues
Back troubles previously affected Saliba three years ago. His 2022/23 season was cut short after injuring his back during the second leg of Arsenal's Europa League last-16 clash with Sporting. He missed the final 11 Premier League matches and four of France's European Championship qualifiers, returning four months later during pre-season.
Defensive Options
The club have signed defenders Cristhian Mosquera, Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori since that period, but may need further reinforcements. Mosquera has featured as a right-sided centre half, partnering Gabriel against Girona, with boss Mikel Arteta evidently grooming him to deputise for Saliba. Ben White is another alternative who can shift infield from right-back.
Arsenal continue to monitor the market for cover. England international Ezri Konsa was reportedly under consideration, but Aston Villa's asking price in excess of £50m hampers any prospective transfer. Former Manchester City defender John Stones was also considered before joining Inter on a free transfer, and Arsenal have been linked with other defenders.
Transfer Activity
Arsenal are on the brink of landing a statement signing in Bruno Guimaraes, having agreed a £75m deal with Newcastle United for their captain. The Gunners are also hopeful of signing Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr, who is in the final 12 months of his contract at the Bernabeu.
