Arsenal are close to completing a £25m deal for Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba, according to a report.
The two sides are said to have entered advanced talks in recent days, despite the Gunners being informed that the centre-back will remain in Ligue 1 for another 12 months as part of any arrangement.
Unai Emery wants Saliba as part of his squad for next season, but the Evening Standard claims that is not a possibility.
However, the North London outfit only have to make a small initial payment this summer, meaning that Emery's £40m transfer budget will remain intact.
Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers have also been linked with Saliba, who made 16 top-flight appearances in his breakthrough campaign with Saint-Etienne last time out.
