Saliba 2.0: Arsenal in talks for "one of the most talented CBs in Europe"

Mikel Arteta has the opportunity to create history as Arsenal manager in the coming months, potentially being the first boss to ever win the club a European trophy.

After beating defending champions Real Madrid in the last round, the Gunners must have huge confidence to go all the way and engrave themselves in history forever.

Regardless of their success on the European stage, the Spaniard has been unable to take the side all the way to Premier League glory in 2024/25 – looking likely to finish second for a third consecutive year.

If they are to finally go one better and claim a first league triumph in over two decades, more signings are needed to provide increased squad depth – with this summer pivotal in Arteta’s tenure at the Emirates.

With just a couple of weeks until the window opens, the hierarchy have wasted no time in identifying potential targets who could add to the project currently being built in North London.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new players this summer

Despite having the best defensive record in England’s top flight this season, Arsenal have already targeted reinforcements in the backline ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Nottingham Forest star Murillo has once again emerged on their radar, after the Gunners were previously interested in landing the Brazilian back in the January window.

However, they aren’t alone in their pursuit of the 22-year-old, with Liverpool also hunting for the signature of the youngster, who could cost around £70m in the summer.

Another defensive target has emerged in the form of Valencia’s 20-year-old star Yarek Gasiorowski, who could be seen as a cheaper alternative to Forest gem Murillo in the coming months.

According to FootballTransfers, the Gunners have already entered talks with the LaLiga outfit over a potential deal to land the youngster ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The 20-year-old gem who could become Arsenal’s next Saliba

French international William Saliba has cemented himself as a regular starter at the heart of the Arsenal backline over recent years, playing a pivotal role in their various successes under Arteta.

He originally joined in a £27m deal from Ligue 1 side Saint Étienne back in the summer of 2019, before multiple loan spells at Nice and Marseille which catapulted him into the first-team picture ahead of 2022/23.

The 24-year-old has since gone from strength to strength in North London, notching 129 appearances across all competitions, 46 of which have come in the current season.

However, six years on from his original agreement to join the Gunners, Arteta could look to replicate such a deal with Gasiorowski – with the Spaniard joining from a side in a top five league whilst potentially going out on loan before making a mark in North London.

Should he join, it remains to be seen whether he would be an immediate option for Arteta, but he has managed to produce various impressive figures throughout 2024/25 despite his tender age.

The “dominant” centre-back, as labelled by analyst Ben Mattinson, has averaged more progressive carries than Saliba in their respective divisions this year – highlighting his ability on the ball.

He’s also won more tackles per 90, whilst also winning more aerial battles – offering yet another star defensive talent for Arteta should the hierarchy look to complete a deal for his services. With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that talent scout Jacek Kulig once suggested he’s “one of the most talented CBs in Europe.”

It’s unclear how much a deal for Gasiorowski would set the board back this window, but given the stats he’s produced to date, it’s certainly a deal worth exploring.

He has bags of time to develop further, possibly turning into a bigger talent than Saliba, especially if his numbers at such a tender age are anything to go by.

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