Marseille are looking to bring William Saliba back to France on a permanent basis, according to Foot Mercato.
The young Frenchman was in stellar form for Sampioli’s last season, a loan spell that culminated in 21-year-old winning Ligue 1 young player of the season.
Such exceptional form has meant that Saliba is a much desired transfer for clubs on the continent.
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Since joining the Gunners in 2019, the Frenchman is yet to appear in the historic red and white in a competitive fixture, undergoing loan spells at St Etienne, OGC Nice and of course, Marseille.
That time away from the intense glare of the Emirates spotlight has done the 21-year-old the world of good.
When Colney returned to London, he had senior international appearances under his belt.
Arteta is said to be reliant on Saliba for the upcoming season, with a condensed schedule, European football and a thin squad, the Frenchman will start plenty of games in rotation with White and Gabriel, and that’s without mentioning his world class potential.
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There is no indication the Gunners want to sell Saliba, in-fact, the polar opposite is true, with reports that the Arsenal board have extending his contract at the top of their to-do list.
Building a young, hungry squad is at the core of the new Arsenal ethos, and Saliba is the embodiment of that.
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Marseille will no doubt continue to pursue the Frenchman, and who can blame them?
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The 21-year-old is one of the hottest prospects in Europe. However, pry as they like, as things stand, the likelihood of a move seems minimal and best, so Arsenal fans can rest easy, all evidence suggests Saliba will finally grace the hallowed Emirates turf next season.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: William Saliba, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Transfers, Marseille