At a time when Arsenal’s finances are tight it says much about their belief in William Saliba that they are prepared to spend £27 million on a teenager with only 16 games and one season under his belt at Saint-Étienne in Ligue 1.

Saliba, 18, is seen as one of the most promising young centre backs in France. He is physically imposing at 6ft 4in but says his best quality is reading the game. He was quickly made captain of France at youth level and his stature and style have drawn comparisons with Raphaël Varane, the Real Madrid centre back.

“It’s not a stupid comparison, but William has closed [his mind] to this,” Jean-Luc Vannuchi, the France Under-18 coach, has said. “He has such strength