Arsenal have been offered Sporting CP centre-back Zeno Debast for around €40m as they scramble to plug the defensive void left by William Saliba’s extended absence. The Gunners are top of the Premier League with 85 points from 38 games, but injuries have forced them to look at alternatives.

What’s the Debast link?

Intermediaries have floated Debast’s name to Arsenal as a low-cost option while Saliba recovers. The 22-year-old Belgian is available for roughly €40m, a figure that could fit Arsenal’s summer budget. For now, there’s been no formal approach, but sources close to the agents say the Gunners haven’t ruled out a move after being told they could be invited to bid.

How does Debast fit Arsenal’s needs?

Arsenal have already been priced out of Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa this window. Chelsea’s £117m bid for Rogers was never on the table for Arsenal, who saw no value in that tag. Aston Villa’s £60m valuation for Konsa also killed any chance of a deal. That leaves Debast as one of the few affordable defensive options left.

Manchester United also monitor Debast, though their interest isn’t as urgent as Arsenal’s right now. The Gunners’ policy of sustainable spending means they’ll avoid overpaying, and Debast’s €40m price tag could make him the smart pick.

What happens next?

Arsenal only just got clarity on Saliba’s timeline, so any new defensive signing won’t arrive overnight. But the club’s hunt for cover is on, and Debast’s name keeps surfacing. If other targets fall through, he could become the most tempting option left.

Arsenal’s next fixture is a home clash with Borussia Dortmund on 9 August 2026, a week before the Premier League curtain-raiser. The Gunners go into that game unbeaten in their last five matches, with a 4W-1D-0L recent run and a +44 goal difference this season.

Arsenal sit 7 points clear of Manchester City at the top, but injuries and transfer targets mean the squad’s depth is under the microscope.