Arsenal have reportedly set a €30 million asking price for defender William Saliba, with the Frenchman keen on staying at Marseille.
According to L’Equipe, Arsenal are willing to sell William Saliba for €30 million in the summer transfer window. After a successful loan spell at Marseille wherein he helped them qualify for the UEFA Champions League, the 21-year-old defender will return to Arsenal, but he wishes to prolong his stay at Stade Velodrome.
William Saliba has proven to be a divisive figure among Arsenal fans, with some not willing to rate him unless they see him first-hand playing for the club. In contrast, others have been mightily impressed by the young Frenchman’s displays.
Some sections are already touting him as the next coming of Virgil van Dijk; the defender certainly has a bright future. Whether it would be at Arsenal remains to be seen, as the Gunners are reportedly prepared to offload him in the summer.
It has been three years since the 21-year-old was signed from Saint-Etienne and then loaned back for the following season. His spell was cut short due to the outbreak of COVID-19, as the Ligue 1 season stood cancelled. There was much chatter over in north London as Saliba was primed for a big role under Mikel Arteta, only for Arsenal to disregard his presence and loan him to OGC Nice in the following winter window.
Saliba and his agent’s insistence on the defender getting regular minutes prompted Arsenal to consider another loan deal, with the youngster joining Marseille for the 2021/22 season. The Gunners’ plan has worked so far, with Saliba becoming a key star at Stade Velodrome, helping Les Phoceens to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1.
As Marseille played their last game, Saliba hinted that he wants to remain at the Ligue 1 club for next season and play in the Champions League. Arsenal’s fifth-placed finish means the north Londoners will only play in the Europa League, which could become a factor for the Frenchman this summer.
While Arteta wishes to keep hold of the 21-year-old defender and integrate him into the squad, his insistence on regular starts may prompt the Gunners to consider a solid offer in the summer. And according to L’Equipe, Arsenal have slapped a €30 million price tag for suitors to consider.
Marseille could become the front-runners for Saliba’s signature, but their ability to match the asking price remains questioned. Meanwhile, €30 million is also what Arsenal reportedly paid Saint-Etienne three years ago, and the actual demand from the north Londoners could be much higher than the reported sum.
Arsenal have no reason to sell Saliba on the cheap, considering the newfound experience under his belt and the two remaining years in his contract. Alternatively, the Gunners could consider another loan to Marseille if Saliba signs a new deal in north London.
The French outlet suggests that Arsenal would like to recoup the money they spent on the 21-year-old defender and would be happy to let him leave. Saliba will certainly attract tremendous interest if the Gunners consider a sale, with Atletico Madrid among the clubs keen on securing his services.