Report: Patrick Vieira wants to sign Arsenal player on loan in January

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Patrick Vieira’s Nice are looking for a new defender next month and Arsenal’s William Saliba is one of their targets, according to French outlet But Football Club.

The Gunners splashed £27 million (Goal) on the teenager at the start of last season and immediately sent him back to Saint-Etienne on loan. He made the move to Arsenal at the start of this season, but Mikel Arteta hasn’t given him any opportunities.

Saliba is yet to play a competitive game for Arsenal’s first-team. The Frenchman is among the highest-rated young defenders in world football, but Arteta does not feel he is ready for the senior side just yet.

That has irked many Arsenal fans. Supporters want to see him in action at least in the Europa League, but he isn’t even in the 25-man squad. The youngster is almost guaranteed to leave on loan next month and many felt he would return to his former club.

However, Arsenal legend Vieira has reportedly approached the club and Saliba’s representatives over a loan move in January. The youngster would certainly learn a lot from the former Gunners skipper and Arteta should not have any concerns about sending him to Nice.

Sadly though, it might not happen. Vieira is under a lot of pressure due to his style of play and recent results. Nice have lost each of their last four games in all competitions, and the club’s supporters are not happy.

There is a chance that Vieira could face the sack in the very near future. That would all but rule out a loan move for Saliba, who will then likely return to Saint-Etienne for the second half of this season.

A loan move to either club would be excellent for Saliba. He needs to play regularly and gain experience at the top level, but that will not be possible at Arsenal this season.

However, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz will all be free agents next summer. If Saliba impresses in his loan spell, he will push for a spot in Arsenal’s first-team, and there is no reason why he won’t make it next season.