Weeks of talks broke down with apparent bitterness between the clubs when neither backed down over a clause that would earn Arsenal an extra 2.5million euros (£2.3million). The Gunners signed 19-year-old centre-back Saliba from his boyhood club last summer for £25million but agreed he could stay at Saint-Etienne for the current season. And his glum demeanour has apparently persuaded Arsenal to reopen talks. In return, Saint-Etienne would still have to pay Arsenal the seven-figure bonus. A club statement declared: “William Saliba had been training with Claude Puel’s group for several days and was obviously very enthusiastic about the idea of ending his time in Green with such a match.

Source: Daily Mirror July 07, 2020 11:25 UTC