Speaking on the Talking Transfers Podcast, Graeme Bailey has been discussing William Saliba’s future at Arsenal.
The French defender arrived for £30m back in 2019, but, as of yet, he’s not made his Arsenal debut.
The 21-year-old is coming off the back of a fantastic loan spell with Marseille, and according to Bailey, the centre-half is trying to persuade the Gunners to let him go back to the Ligue 1 club for another season as he targets a place in the France squad at the World Cup.
What’s been said?
Bailey spoke about Saliba’s plans.
“I could see him signing a new contract and then going out on loan to Marseille again. They have Champions Legaue football to offer, he’s broken into the French squad while playing there. I understand he is persuading Arsenal ‘let me go to Marseille for one more season and then I’ll come back to north London to compete’. The last thing Saliba wants is to sit on the bench, he can’t just sit on that bench for six months, the World Cup is coming around very quickly here, so it’s a massive few weeks for his future,” Bailey said.
Tough decision
Arsenal have been put in a real bind here by Saliba.
On one hand, they would be doing right by the player by allowing him to chase his World Cup dream, but, at the same time, the London club could really do with keeping him around as a depth option.
Saliba would be a fantastic addition to this Arsenal squad, but on a personal level, a move to Marseille would probably make more sense this summer.
Perhaps this loan deal could come to fruition if Edu can land another centre-back in this window, and with Lisandro Martinez linked, that is a distinct possibility.
This is certainly a situation to keep an eye on.
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