Arsenal star fans exit flames after talking up transfer away – ‘definitely not a bad idea’

William Saliba insisted it’s “definitely not a bad idea” leaving Arsenal for good this summer, and is already the subject of a huge charm offensive from Marseille’s president.

The French centre-half, 20, is currently on a season-long loan at Marseille. Saliba originally moved to Arsenal in 2019 after becoming one of France’s most highly touted defenders at Saint-Etienne. However, despite being on their books for nearly three years, he is yet to make a senior Gunners appearance.

Indeed, Saliba has spent time back in Ligue 1 on three separate occasions. Loan spells back at Saint-Etienne, along with Nice and currently Marseille were agreed.

Yet Arsenal’s loss has been the respective French clubs’ gain with Saliba continually impressing in his homeland.

Precisely why Saliba hasn’t been given a chance at Arsenal is a question many Arsenal fans have been pondering.

His loan stints may be to ensure his development is not stunted. Indeed, he may have found it difficult to disrupt the impressive Ben White-Gabriel Magalhaes partnership if retained in north London this season.

However, if Saliba’s latest comments are anything to go by, he’s warming to the idea of joining Marseille for good.

Saliba talks up Marseille stay

“I’ve never hidden the fact that I feel good here [at Marseille],” Saliba told RMC Sport.

“I don’t know what my future holds, there’s still two months to go.

“The most important thing is to qualify for the Champions League and go as far as possible in the Conference League.

“I think discussions will take place afterwards, at the end of May to early June, between Arsenal and Marseille – we’ll decide at that point.

“But staying on here would definitely not be a bad idea, on the contrary, I know the city, my teammates, my manager. But it doesn’t depend on me.”

Whether Arsenal would be open to selling Saliba in the summer, only time will tell. They did sign Takehiro Tomiyasu in the summer whose natural position at Bologna was centre-half.

The Japan ace has been deployed at right-back thus far. Though Football London claimed a new right-back is a priority this summer when detailing Arsenal’s upcoming clearout.

That could once again leave Saliba out in the cold – something Marseille’s president would look to exploit.

Pablo Longoria recently addressed Marseille’s chances of signing Saliba outright this summer. In doing so, he described the Frenchman as “one of the best young defenders I have ever seen in my career”.

“Keeping hold of William is a three-way matter for Arsenal, who own him, as well as for the player himself and for Marseille,” Longoria told French outlet La Provence.

“We need to take a look at our possibilities. He is very happy here with us, and we are very satisfied with his performances.

“William is one of the best young defenders I have ever seen in my career. It is a real question of what he is worth on the transfer market.”

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