Arsenal are preparing for the possibility that defender William Saliba may require surgery on a long-standing back injury, potentially sidelining him for the remainder of the year, according to TEAMtalk. The development has prompted a reassessment of the club’s summer transfer strategy.
Sources indicate that Saliba has been managing the injury for some time, but treatment has failed to yield improvement, leading to a growing belief within the club that surgery is now the most likely course of action. This news significantly alters Arsenal’s plans, which initially focused on signing a new right-back, potentially as a replacement for Ben White.
However, with Saliba’s availability uncertain, the Gunners are now prioritising a central defender who can also provide cover at right-back. Ben White himself recovered from a knee injury that did not require surgery and is expected to be fit for the start of the new season, and his versatility has become more valuable to manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal have previously monitored several right-back options, including Wesley, Ivan Fresneda, Nnamdi Collins and Tino Livramento, but now appear to be focusing on a player capable of filling multiple roles. As a result, Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has re-emerged as a serious target for the North London club.
Konsa’s ability to play both centre-back and right-back makes him an ideal fit for Arsenal’s revised plans, offering cover in central defence while also strengthening the right side of the defence. The club are already in discussions with Villa over a deal for forward Morgan Rogers, and Konsa is now also being closely watched as a potential addition.
Aston Villa may be reluctant to lose two key players, especially following the departure of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United, but Arsenal’s long-standing admiration for Konsa is expected to intensify in the coming weeks. If Saliba does undergo surgery, Arsenal are determined to avoid being left short-handed in defence.
