L’Equipe claim – as per GFFN – that Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone want to sign Arsenal defender William Saliba, as he continues to shine on loan at Marseille. The centre-back has been sensational on loan at Marseille.
Saliba, 21, joined Arsenal from St. Etienne in the summer of 2019 for a fee of £30million (Express) – but is yet to make his senior Gunners debut. He has since been on loan at St. Etienne, Nice and Marseille – his best loan yet.
The Frenchman has won two senior France caps after clocking up a huge 45 appearances in all competitions. Keeping 15 clean sheets, 25 wins, a Europa Conference League semi-final and second in Ligue 1 behind PSG.
Marseille will be keen to keep Saliba beyond his loan, especially with Champions League qualification a possibility. But Diego Simeone is said to have made an enquiry for the defender, who is unsure regarding his future.
Speaking to French outlet Le Parisien over the weekend, Saliba stated he does not know where he will be next term: “We’ll see in May or June depending on negotiations. Right now, I don’t know what my future holds.”
Atletico eye Saliba: If Arsenal sell, what is a fair price for defender?
Saliba has finally shown why Arsenal spent £30million during Unai Emery’s era to sign him. He is a top, top defender with enormous potential. He is showing the kind of quality expected of a player much older than just 21.
If Saliba was bought for £30million and is showing that he is one of the best defenders in world football at his age – with France caps – surely the Gunners should be requesting a fee in the region of double that?
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