Why Arsenal may be forced to sell Saliba this summer
FT Desk
- Updated: 16 Jul 2022 22:05 BST
- 3 min read
William Saliba has returned to Arsenal for pre-season following his season-long loan move to Marseille, but he could leave the North London club permanently before the end of the transfer window.
Saliba, 22, joined Arsenal back in 2020, but upon arriving from St Etienne with big expectations, he was left out of the Gunners' Premier League squad by Mikel Arteta.
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The Frenchman was then loaned to Nice for the second-half of the 2020/21 campaign, before returning to Ligue 1, this time to Marseille, on loan for the following season.
In 2021/22, Saliba thoroughly impressed and won Ligue 1's 'Defender of the Season' award after a stellar year. However, he could yet leave Arsenal permanently.
With Benjamin White signed for £50 million last summer, the Englishman became a key member of the Gunners backline, forming an impressive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of the defence.
Gabriel, 24, may well leave Arsenal this summer, with Juventus keen to add him to their squad to replace the outgoing Matthijs de Ligt, who is expected to join Bayern Munich.
If Gabriel is to leave, then Arsenal have lined up a potential replacement. FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that the Gunners are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba this summer. Arteta's side had been in for Ajax's Lisandro Martinez, but he is set to join Manchester United, with Rangers' Calvin Bassay to replace the Argentine in Amsterdam.
Gabriel was Juventus' second choice to replace De Ligt, but their number one target, Kalidou Koulibaly, has joined Chelsea, leaving the Brazilian as a candidate to join the Bianconeri this summer.
Saliba to leave?
Arteta may be dealt yet more worry in regards to his centre-back position with news that Saliba could leave. According to the Independent, Saliba will ask for a permanent move away from the Emirates if he isn't guaranteed a spot in the starting XI this season.
With Gabriel and White forming a strong duo last year, if the Brazilian sticks around, Saliba may have to play second-fiddle, which isn't something he is reportedly willing to do.
Atletico Madrid are understood to be interested in signing him, while Marseille are keen for him to return, this time on a permanent deal from Arsenal, just like Matteo Guendouzi.
