According to a recent tweet posted by RMC Sport’s chief football editor, Mohamed Bouhafsi (translated by the Daily Express), Tottenham Hotspur will send their representatives to meet with the Saint Etienne chiefs today to thrash out a potential deal for Willian Saliba during this summer transfer window.
The same source has also revealed that Spurs have already tabled a bid worth in excess of €30m plus add-ons which have put them ahead of Arsenal in the race to secure the services of the French defender in this off-season.
William Saliba’s Stellar Rise In The French Top-Flight
The Saint-Etienne defensive ace enjoyed a fruitful season in the Ligue 1 as he thrived on the pitch with regular first-team opportunities coming his way. Saliba put in a series of outstanding defensive displays at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the previous campaign. The Ligue 1 prospect featured in 19 matches for the French outfit on all fronts in the last term.
The 18-year-old has been a solid defender for Saint-Etienne after he made an average of 2.0 tackles, 1.8 interceptions and 2.7 clearances per game in the top tier of France last season (Stats via Whoscored).
Saliba has a bright future in European football if he can continue improving his game on the field by securing more game time next season. However, Mauricio Pochettino cannot afford to hand him that luxury in North London as he will be competing with the likes of Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez for a starting berth in the Tottenham first-team.
What Will The Saint-Etienne Youngster Bring To North London?
Saliba is quick enough to chase down the opposition attackers even when he gets isolated in 1v1 situations. He has a good football IQ, which allows him to make a lot of crucial interceptions for his team. However, it remains to be seen whether he can cope with the physical toll of Premier League football.
The acquisition of a player of Saliba’s incredible potential will undoubtedly improve Pochettino’s defensive options at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, he is still quite a raw talent and would need time to adapt to life in North London. Hence, Spurs would need to be patient with him before they get to witness Saliba entering his prime in the coming years.
