Andriy Lunin Arsenal FC EPL
Emirates Arsenal FC EPL

William Saliba wants to rejoin Marseille but Arsenal have made it clear that they do not wish to part ways with the centre-back, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Gunners paid around £27 million for the defender back in 2019 but all he has done is more around in three loan spells. He is yet to play even a single senior competitive game for Arsenal but in France, everyone’s been raving about his talent.

The defender spent the recent season on loan at Marseille and he ended up bagging the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award. His performances in France have caught the attention of several big clubs and after Napoli and Atlético Madrid, Newcastle United have now joined the race to sign the 21-year-old.

According to RMC Sport, the centre-back wishes to head back to Marseille for the 22/23 season but Arsenal remain adamant that they do not want to cash in on him.

Can Arsenal hold onto William Saliba?

Arsenal have been repeatedly claiming that they have full faith in the young centre-back but they are yet to bring him into the first-team squad.

In the second half of the 20/21 campaign he had an ok loan spell with Nice but this season he’s been brilliant with Marseille, playing 52 games across all competitions. The Ligue 1 side have qualified for the Champions League so it’s quite natural that Saliba wants to head back and we have a feeling the Gunners won’t be able to hold onto him.

Arsenal currently have Gabriel, Ben White, Pablo Mari and Rob Holding so it will be very difficult for Saliba to break into the first team and with so many clubs interested in him, this is the perfect time for the North London side to cash in on him.

With clubs like Atletico and Newcastle United prying for him, it will be very easy for Arsenal to recoup their initial transfer fee(and even make a profit) for the centre-back but we can understand why Arteta wants to hold onto him.

Given his performances this past season, it will be pragmatic for Arteta to incorporate him into the squad rather than spend money on a new defender but the basic problem is that at the moment, the manager just cannot guarantee him regular playing time.

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