Arsenal will open preliminary talks with William Saliba over a new contract in the summer, according to football.london.
The Frenchman joined the Gunners in 2019 on the back of a sensational season with St-Etienne. But, the youngster is yet to make his professional debut for the club. He has now been loaned to three different clubs, the latest of which came in the form of Marseille.
The youngster has been on top of his game this campaign with OM. They have one of the best defensive records in Ligue 1, and the defender has played a crucial role in achieving that. Saliba has featured in 26 of their league outings so far this season..
The French club have been keen on making the defender’s loan spell a permanent deal. However, Mikel Arteta had already expressed his desire to integrate him into the Gunners’ squad in the future.
As per a report in football.london, the 20-year-old is determined to prove himself in the Premier League with the north Londoners. But, the major stumbling block is the lack of game time. He would prefer to be a regular starter in Arteta’s team.
The report further states that Arsenal will review Saliba’s situation with preliminary talks over a new contract expected to take place in the summer.
Arsenal Fever View:
The Frenchman is one of the hottest prospects in Europe right now. His loan spells have proven to be very productive. He still has plenty of years to develop and become a world-class defender. Having enjoyed playing first-team football week in and week out at Marseille, it is unlikely he would be happy being reduced to a squad player next season.
Ben White and Gabriel have formed a solid partnership at the back for the Gunners. Saliba may not be able to replace them, but it is to be noted that he is more than capable of filling at the right-back spot. The youngster is one for the future, and the club have to hold on to him.
Meanwhile, the north Londoners have been in stellar form recently, securing 13 points in their last five games. If they can keep the momentum going, a return to Champions League football after five years is certainly on the cards.
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