According to a recent report by the Times (via the Sun), Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba has no intention of making a switch to Tottenham Hotspur during this summer transfer period. RMC Sport had reported last month that Spurs told the French club that they would be tabling a bid for the Ligue 1 prospect, but it now seems that the player does not fancy a move to the North London club.
This recent development will be a bitter pill to swallow for Mauricio Pochettino and his long-term ambitions as the Spurs boss. A player of Saliba’s incredible potential would have bolstered their defensive options in the future, but they would now have to look elsewhere in search of a reliable defensive option for the coming years.
William Saliba’s Rapid Emergence In French Football
The Saint-Etienne centre-half has flourished with regular first-team football in the Ligue 1 and has put in a series of dominant displays at the middle of Jean-Louis Gasset’s defence last season. The French prospect featured in 19 matches for the Ligue 1 outfit in the previous term across all competitions.
He has coped very well defensively as he made an average of 2.0 tackles, 1.8 interceptions and 2.7 clearances per game in the French top-flight in the last campaign (Stats via Whoscored).
Saliba is destined to be a future star as long as he can continue working hard on improving his game on the field by earning regular first-team football. However, Pochettino doesn’t have the lure of giving him that luxury at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium so it is no surprise that the French defensive ace has declined a switch to Spurs this summer.
What Does The Saint-Etienne Starlet Offer On The Pitch?
Saliba has decent pace and is mobile enough to chase down the opposition attackers even when he gets outnumbered while facing his own goal. He has an intelligent football brain which enables him to make a lot of timely interceptions for his side. However, there are some question marks over whether he can deal with the physicality and high intensity of English football.
Saliba Intends To Decline Spurs Move: What Now For Pochettino?
Saliba’s reluctance to move to North London will be a massive blow for Spurs, but there are enough talented players in the market to keep Pochettino occupied as he tries to recruit wisely and help his players put in a strong title charge next season.
