The latest word surrounding the future of William Saliba stemming from the French media on Friday will no doubt be met with widespread concern on the part of the Arsenal faithful.
Highly-regarded youngster Saliba, of course, is currently in the midst of a third loan stint away from the Emirates, and parent club Arsenal.
After failing to work his way into the first-team plans of Mikel Arteta ahead of the campaign getting underway, the 21-year-old secured a return to his home country with Olympique Marseille.
And to say that Saliba has since gone on to impress would be something of an understatement.
The former Saint-Etienne talent has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet of boss Jorge Sampaoli, en route to starts in all but one of Marseille’s Ligue 1 outings across the campaign to date.
LENS, FRANCE – JANUARY 22: William Saliba #2 of Olympique de Marseille challenges Seko Fofana #8 of RC Lens during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Lens and Marseille on January 22, 2022 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
Not only that, but Saliba has too seen his form rewarded with both a call-up to the French senior national team setup, and the award for the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year.
Staying put?
Chatter, in turn, has long been rampant amongst the Arsenal fanbase, regarding what exactly is likely to be in store for the club’s up-and-coming defender in the 2022/23 campaign.
The vast majority have made clear their hope that Saliba will ultimately return in the summer, before battling it out with current first-choice central-defensive duo Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes for a starting berth.
As alluded to above, though, if the stopper himself has his way, then Saliba’s spell on the books at the Emirates could yet come to a close without him ever having stepped foot on the pitch in Gunners colours.
As per a report from RMC Sport, Saliba has informed those in a position of power at the Stade Velodrome that he hopes to remain into next season.
Not only that, but boss Sampaoli is understood to have reiterated during a recent meeting with the Marseille board that sealing a new deal for his loan defender, be it another loan or on a permanent basis, should be viewed as the club’s no.1 priority this summer.
It now remains to be seen whether Arsenal would be in any way open to such a proposition.
Breaking | William Saliba has told Marseille that he wants to stay at the club, according to RMC Sport. More follows.
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) May 20, 2022
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