According to Foot Mercato, Newcastle aren’t the only Premier League club interested in signing William Saliba on loan from Arsenal next season.
They state that Southampton are also keen on a temporary deal for the defender.
Newcastle were first linked with Saliba on June 6th by the Daily Mail. They claimed that the Magpies had turned their attention to the Frenchman, with a move for Kristoffer Ajer suddenly looking unlikely.
News of Newcastle’s interest divided Toon fans, as Steve Bruce aims to sign a new defender this summer.
Saliba is certainly an interesting option. The 20-year-old is very highly rated, which is why Arsenal spent £27million in the summer of 2019.
However, he is yet to make his Arsenal debut, and spent the second half of last season on loan at Nice.
Will Saliba head to Newcastle on loan?
News of Southampton’s interest is certainly a worry.
While it is still very early in the transfer window, Newcastle seem unwilling to engage in any kind of battle for a player.
It looks like we’re going to miss out on Ajer, while it has also been claimed that Billy Gilmour won’t be heading to St James’ Park either.
Teams all around us are acting fast. Meanwhile, Lee Charnley and Mike Ashley sit on their hands, no doubt waiting for the results of arbitration.
Newcastle’s takeover saga is once again having a huge impact. The club seem unwilling to do anything until its immediate future is resolved.
That is a real problem for Bruce, who will be desperate for reinforcements after a tough Premier League season.
Foot Mercato claim that Saliba has interest from France, Italy and Germany, which could make things even more difficult for the Magpies.
Of course, Newcastle do have a history with Arsenal loan players, with Joe Willock thriving last season.
But will that have an impact on Saliba possibly heading to the north east? Only time will tell.
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