Arsenal transfer news: Unai Emery prepared to wait to land first-choice targets as William Saliba deal nears

French defender will join Arsenal but remain on loan with St Etienne until next season, but Emery is prepared to wait as long as it means he receives the players he wants to sign

Arsenal manager Unai Emery said he is happy to be patient in the transfer market and will wait for the right player to become available.

The Gunners head coach was speaking after watching his side make it two wins from two in the International Champions Cup with a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in Charlotte.

Emery was asked about the prospect of having to wait another season to be able to call on French defender William Saliba, who is poised to complete a £27m move to Arsenal but remain on loan with St Etienne until the end of the season.

And although Emery would prefer to have him available as soon as possible, the Spaniard is willing to play the waiting game in order to land his first-choice targets as opposed to signing back-up players.

“Really I am with patience because we want to choose the best solution,” Emery said. “Some players are very expensive and we are waiting for this possibility.

“We don’t want now to go to the second line of players.

“We are waiting. We have very good players. We have very good young players.

“We are aware also that we need to improve some players in this squad. I want to sign one, two, three or four players only if we can be sure they are coming to improve our team.”

Emery, however, said there were a number of possibilities floating around and he was in constant contact with sporting director Edu and head of football Raul Sanllehi, while they also spoke with the club’s owners the Kroenke family.

Saliba is expected to join Arsenal in the next few days (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

“There are a lot of names. The club is working, Edu is very close to me and Raul,” Emery said.

“We speak every day.”

Reuters