Arsenal have dealt another blow in a transfer window that is proving to be an ongoing slog.
The Gunners have so far only landed a backup goalkeeper in Ilian Meslier and gambled on Greek forward Christos Tzolis, with the likes of Morgan Rogers escaping their grasp and a saga for Bruno Guimaraes proving to be testing.
With Arsenal potentially heading into the season with an injury crisis, too, further news that they won't be landing a preferred target to cover defensively is almost certain to leave fans concerned.
Arsenal 'unlikely' to land centre-back prospect, following 'contact'
With William Saliba bowing out of the World Cup semi-final against eventual champions Spain with a worrying back injury, Arsenal's summer transfer business was cast into doubt, with manager Mikel Arteta expected to secure a backup to the hugely important Frenchman.
Arsenal have since confirmed in a statement that Saliba will not be undergoing surgery as first reported – but the lack of a stylistic replacement to slot next to Gabriel is still a significant weakness in a defence who were imperious en route to a first Premier League title in 22 years.
Friday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo in Spain, relayed via Sport Witness, claims that the uncertainty over Saliba has led Arsenal to enquire about Real Sociedad starlet, Jon Martin.
Described as a “Basque lighthouse” who “deserves to be in the same breath” as leading Spanish centre-backs Pau Cubarsi and Dean Huijsen, by youth football expert Joe Donnohue in FourFourTwo's Boy's A Bit Special series, Martin has long been on Arsenal's radar.
While Sport Witness notes that both Arsenal and Real Madrid are capable of triggering the €60 million release clause required to secure the defender's services, it's the 20-year-old himself who reportedly wants to remain in San Sebastian for the foreseeable future.
This is similar to the path shown by the Gunners' Martin Zubimendi, who rejected advances from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City in order to remain at La Real as long as possible – before moving to the Emirates Stadium last summer.
FourFourTwo understands that though Martin is a serious target for the North Londoners, however, a price upwards of £50m may prove to be too steep either way, for a star who is essentially a project player who is unlikely to oust Saliba from first-team contention.
The Gunners retain a serious interest in England star Ezri Konsa – thanks in part to the Aston Villa man's ability to play at right-back – while free agent John Stones has been mooted as a potential option to join on a short-term deal.
Ben White's imminent exit from N5 may be postponed by Saliba's rehabilitation instead, with FourFourTwo understanding that Newcastle United star Tino Livramento is another serious option to essentially take White's right-back role in the squad and allow his Three Lions team-mate to cover in the centre of defence.
Martin is worth €25m, according to Transfermarkt. Arsenal begin their Premier League defence against Frank Lampard's newly-promoted Coventry City.
