Arsenal transfer news: Gunners offered €40m centre back amid William Saliba injury

Arsenal are preparing to enter the transfer market for another central defender this summer after they received confirmation that William Saliba will be out for an ‘extended period' with a back injury.

The Frenchman picked up the injury during the World Cup, and although no official timeline has been given for his return, the setback is enough to put Arsenal back in the market for defensive reinforcements.

In each of the last five seasons, the Gunners have signed a central defender to their ranks, and although they are stacked at the back, the latest defender to be offered to them is Sporting Lisbon's Zeno Debast.

Debast offered to Arsenal for €40m

Caught Offside have reported that the Belgium international has been offered to the Gunners via intermediaries and that a deal could be secured for just €40m.

If true, this is the sort of deal that would represent value for money in anotherwise crazy market, particularly as Arsenal have held a long-standing interest in the 22-year-old.

Arsenal are reportedly not prepared to spend big money on a centre-back due to their strength in this area, although there is an acceptance that an addition in this area of the pitch as they do not want to rush Saliba back early.

As things stand, Arsenal have Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Christhian Mosquera, Ben White and Jurrien Timber as centre-back options, but two of those usually play as full-backs, which makes their options more limited than meets the eye.

The decision to make Hincapie's transfer permanent earlier in the summer now looks like the right one, and the Colombian is the most likely candidate to fill in for Saliba next to Gabriel.

Arsenal are also said to be interested in Ezri Konsa, although their valuation of the England defender is just £35m, while Aston Villa would reportedly only sell for closer to £60m.

FW verdict: A deal that makes sense for Arsenal

There is no need for Arsenal to spend big money on a central defender when Saliba and Gabriel will remain their first-choice pairing when both are fit. Therefore, a €40m deal for a youngster they have previously been interested in makes an awful lot of sense.

Another defender who they could bring in for even cheaper is John Stones, who is now a free agent following his release from Manchester City.