According to The Independent, Arsenal could still loan William Saliba out this month despite the transfer window closing, with a move to the Championship a possibility.
The French centre-back almost joined his former side Saint-Etienne before Monday’s deadline, but the Ligue 1 side said administrative conditions in England couldn’t be met before time ran out.
While that avenue – and any others across Europe – are now closed, the domestic deadline for transfers is on October 16th. Clubs from the Premier League and the EFL can still do business up until that point.
As a result, Saliba could take a step down into England’s second tier to continue his footballing development.
The 19-year-old was meant to get that much-needed experience under his belt last term, but his campaign was disrupted to say the least.
Arsenal signed him for £27 million and loaned him back to Saint-Etienne, but personal issues, injuries and the pandemic cancelling the Ligue 1 season stunted his growth as The Independent explain.
Mikel Arteta said in an extensive interview with Sky Sports in July that he was looking forward to working with the teenager.
The Spaniard said: ‘I am excited to work with him but I am worried about the expectations because I know how difficult it is to play as a central defender in this country.’
A gruelling 46-game campaign in the Championship would presumably help Saliba get to grips with the physical nature of English football.
Additionally, with so many centre-backs in David Luiz, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhães, Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis at the club, perhaps another loan move away will serve the youngster well.
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