Arsenal are prepared to meet the terms set by St Etienne for William Saliba's signing.

The London Evening Standard says the Ligue 1 club are demanding 30 million euros (£26.5m) and an agreement they will keep the centre-back on loan next season before moving he moves to north London in 2020.

Unai Emery is keen for Saliba to join up sooner than that but Arsenal are understood to be seriously considering those terms in order to beat off competition from other clubs for a player they believe could be the cornerstone of their defence for years to come.

Saliba has also been linked with a move to Tottenham but the Gunners are the clear front-runners as things stand with reports in France suggesting a deal could even be completed in the coming days.