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“How Arsenal’s Early Scout for William Saliba Outshone Chelsea’s £70m Pursuit of Wesley Fofana”

**Saliba: Arsenal's 's Big Investment** Arsenal made a savvy move in 2019 when they secured for £25 million, a decision that would later be contrasted by Chelsea's hefty £70 million acquisition of his teammate, . On a chilly, rainy day in Montpellier, Arsenal's interest in Saliba began to take shape. At the time, he was an 18-year-old playing for Saint-Étienne’s under-19 team, and , Arsenal’s scout in France, had recognized his potential. Gooden's enthusiasm led , the club's head of scouting, to travel to the south of France to observe the young talent. Initially, Cagigao and Gooden were focused on another centre-back at Saint-Étienne, who was a year older and already making waves in the first team. This player would eventually be signed by Chelsea for a staggering £70 million. However, it was Saliba's remarkable speed and commanding presence on the pitch that ultimately swayed the Arsenal scouts in his favor over Fofana.
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Question 1: How much did Arsenal pay to sign William Saliba?

Arsenal paid £25 million to sign William Saliba.

Question 2: Who was the Arsenal scout that first identified William Saliba?

Ty Gooden, Arsenal’s France scout, was the one who first identified William Saliba.

Question 3: Which player did Chelsea sign that was a teammate of Saliba at Saint-Étienne?

Chelsea signed Wesley Fofana, who was a teammate of Saliba at Saint-Étienne.

Question 4: What was the transfer fee for Wesley Fofana when he moved to Chelsea?

Wesley Fofana was signed by Chelsea for £70 million.

Question 5: What qualities of William Saliba impressed the Arsenal scouting team?

Saliba's extraordinary speed and presence were the qualities that impressed the Arsenal scouting team.