Barcelona have added Arsenal defender William Saliba to their list of alternatives if they miss out on Jules Kounde to Chelsea, according to reports in the Spanish media.

The La Liga club have made Kounde their top transfer target but they are struggling to match the £55m offer that Chelsea have put on the table for the Sevilla star.

If the Frenchman does end up moving to Stamford Bridge, Barca could well make a move for Saliba instead. The 21-year-old is reportedly being eyed along with the likes of Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar, Athletic Bilbao’s Inigo Martinez RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol and Roma’s Roger Ibanez.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta spoke out about Saliba’s future yesterday, stating that he is very pleased to have him in the squad:

“We are really happy to have him. You can see the way he’s adapted, the way he’s matured, and he’s playing well, and we are delighted to have him.”

After sending him out on successive loan spells to Nice and Marseille, it appears Arteta is now convinced that Saliba is ready for first-team football. Whether Barcelona’s interest will turn the player’s head, though, we shall have to wait and see.