Why nicking William Saliba from Arsenal is so important to Tottenham?

Tottenham are millimetres away from pulling off a sensational summer transfer coup, as reports out of France suggest William Saliba will sign for Spurs and not Arsenal. 

The importance of such a heist cannot be overstated, with shockwaves of this disappointment spreading far and wide for our bitter rivals.

Substantiated reports from RMC suggest Tottenham, with a £27 million bid, have officially won the Saliba sweepstakes, pulling the wool directly over Unai Emery’s teary eyes. If Arsenal had done their due diligence and stopped dragging their feet over what amounts to a few million pounds, Saliba would be bound for the Emirates.

But like an alert hyena, lurking in the background, Daniel Levy saw his chance and pounced. With the latest Toby Alderweireld developments, the precedent is clearly set on signing a centre back for the future. Even if Toby stays for one more season – the outcome most Tottenham supporters desire – it’s likely he’ll leave Hotspur Way at the end of the 2019-20 season.

Jan Vertonghen, at 32 years of age, is the side’s defensive elder statesman. The sands of time aren’t on the Belgian’s side, underpinning the need for a new generation of defensive stalwarts. Davinson Sánchez has enjoyed a brilliant start to his Spurs’ career, particularly when you consider he’s still only 23 years old.

I have no doubt that Sánchez is Tottenham’s rearguard leader of the future. But he needs a partner in crime, somebody to mould and contour while the club currently relies on Toby and Van. That’s precisely why Tottenham are willing to fork out almost £30 million on Saint Etienne’s promising 18-year-old.

It’s a perfect time to bring Saliba to Tottenham, as the youngster will have time to hone his skills without disrupting the club’s fluidity and chemistry. There will be no pressure on Saliba to play in the first team for a few seasons, a stress-free environment perfect for optimal development.

After Saliba returns from being loaned back to Saint Etienne, he can learn from Jan and hopefully Toby, while getting a feeling for playing beside Davinson. Juan Foyth is still only 21 years old, and has the potential, in the future, to play proficiently as the club’s first choice right back.

Throw Ryan Sessegnon into the mix and you have a formidable defensive quartet, all of whom are 23 years old or younger. The best case defensive scenario at Spurs is on the cusp of coming to fruition.

A strong, reliable and impenetrable defence is the backbone of any Premier League title bid, which Tottenham will have for years to come if Saliba is confirmed as the club’s latest signing.