Marseille president Pablo Longoria has arrived in for talks with William Saliba’s agent as he looks to secure a deal for the defender.
Saliba has been a star player in for Arsenal and is a part of boss Mikel Arteta’s plans for the 2022-23 campaign, but the 21-year-old impressed on loan at Marseille last season and the side now want to keep him.
The France international signed for the Gunners back in 2019 but has not made a single appearance, and has instead been shipped out on loan to French clubs Saint-Etienne, Nice and most recently Marseille.
are reporting that Longoria had dinner with Saliba’s agent on Monday night as he looks to tempt the defender back to Marseille this summer.
Saliba made 36 French top-flight appearances for Marseille last season as the side finished runners up to champions Paris Saint-Germain and he was crowned the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year.
He also helped them reach the semi-finals of the first-ever UEFA Europa Conference League, where they lost out to Dutch side Feyenoord.
However, Arsenal boss Arteta plans to keep Saliba at the Emirates as the Gunners look to reach the top four for the first time since 2015-16.
‘I am really pleased to see the way he is playing,’ Arteta said following Arsenal’s 4-0 pre-season victory over London rivals Chelsea.
‘The way he has adapted to the team, the maturity that he’s shown at 21 years old.
‘We will keep developing him, he has a huge potential. He is already a top player and we have to make him even better.’
It has been a busy summer for Arsenal, who signed Manchester City duo Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko for £45m and £32m respectively.
The Gunners have also brought in Fabio Vieira from Porto for £34m as well as New England Revolution’s Matt Turner and Sao Paulo’s Marquinhos for undisclosed fees.
Arsenal’s Premier League season starts on August 5 when they travel to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
, .
, and .
