Have William Saliba and Arsenal just hand Tottenham a big transfer boost?

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William Saliba has finally put an end to rumours surrounding his future by swapping Arsenal for French side Nice, joining the Ligue 1 outfit on loan until the end of the season – but could such a move help Tottenham?

Saliba. 19, was expected to help Arsenal solve their defensive issues after returning from a loan st St. Etienne in the summer but fast forward until January, and he is yet to make his senior debut. Mikel Arteta is unconvinced.

That has seen Nice swoop, luring him back to his home country on loan until the end of the season. Nice were after a central defender, but could that move have handed Tottenham a boost in a defender chase of their own?

Spurs are being linked with a move, once again, for West Ham’s French defender Issa Diop. The Daily Mirror (5/1; page 47) say that the former Toulouse man is a target for Spurs, especially after he is lacking in game time.

The report claims that West Ham want in the region of £18million for Diop, who initially starred at West Ham before being overtaken by the likes of Angelo Ogbonna and Fabian Balbuena. He has managed just four league outings.

But Saliba and Arsenal might have just helped Spurs in their bid to sign Diop. That is because Nice shortlisted Diop as a centre-back signing before landing Saliba to fill that gap, according to The Sun on Sunday. page 57, January 3.

With Saliba joining Nice, the French side no longer need a defender with the Arsenal man filling that void. Nice and Tottenham were seemingly the only clubs being linked with West Ham’s Diop.

But Arsenal sanctioning a move for Saliba to Nice and Saliba accepting that move may now have just handed Spurs a boost in their pursuit of Diop – given they are now the only team seemingly tracking the Hammers defender.