Arsenal dealt double defensive blow as TWO clubs refuse to do business

Arsenal have been left frustrated in their attempts to sign two different centre-backs.

According to Calciomercato, Gunners target Armando Izzo will not be leaving Torino this summer.

The Serie A side are determined to keep hold of the Italian, who was one of their star performers last term.

And a deal for Saint-Etienne's William Saliba also seems a long way off, with L'Equipe reporting that the Gunners are unwilling to meet the French club's asking price of £27m.

Saint-Etienne also want to keep Saliba, who only turned 18 in March, on loan next season.

Unai Emery is desperate to strengthen his side's defence after watching them concede 51 goals in the Premier League in 2018/19.

But the Arsenal boss may have to turn his attention elsewhere after this dual setback.

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Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).