This archive report was first published on 13 July 2019.
Published on July 13, 2019, Tottenham's late bid for Saint-Etienne centre-back William Saliba has thrown a wrench into Arsenal's plans to sign the 18-year-old French defender.
According to RMC Sport journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi, Spurs have submitted an offer of £27m (€30m) excluding bonuses, which is more than the reported €30m offer from Arsenal.
Saint-Etienne officials are expected to discuss the deal over the weekend, leaving the future of Saliba's transfer uncertain.
Arsenal's correspondent for Goal, Charles Watts, added: "Reports from France that Spurs have come in and bid beyond what Saint-Etienne wanted for Saliba. Saint-Etienne and Arsenal had agreed a deal, just not payment structure/bonus clauses. Could well be that Spurs have now hi-jacked it at the last minute."
The news will come as a bitter blow to Gunners fans who are desperate to see their club add to their squad, with young Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli their only current acquisition so far this summer.
