William Saliba is set to leave Arsenal on loan, with Premier League duo Leeds United and Fulham keen.
The duo have been working hard to improve their squads as they bid to retain their new status as Premier League teams, and both are looking at Saliba to bolster their back line.
One of them may well be boosted by the arrival of the highly rated youngster, with manager Mikel Arteta having overlooked him since the season began.
Saliba was signed in the summer of 2019, with part of the deal including that he was to spend the following season on loan with former side St Etienne.
The 19 year-old enjoyed regular action in France during the campaign when fit, but did miss two spells with injury.
He returned to North London following the early end to football in France due to the Coronavirus, but despite training with the club ahead of the end to last season, and featuring in our minimal pre-season, he isn’t deemed ready for the first-team.
Le10Sport states that Leeds and Fulham are both keen on his signature, with the sides conceding a combined 17 goals after only three league outings.
Arsenal’s latest arrival Gabriel Magalhaes on the other hand has enjoyed a fine start to his Premier League career, and is already looking likely to nail down a starting role in the side this term.
The Brazilian was also impressing in Ligue 1 last term, but has clearly adapted after his move more than his younger counterpart.
Should Arsenal consider keeping Saliba in and around the squad to allow him to settle in slowly? Or would a move within the top tier in England be just as important for his development?
Patrick
This does not make sense to me. I read he’s unsettled because he lost his mum, completely understand that, but why loan him to rivals and not Rennes as was reported, or keep him with us?
premier league experience… duh
I have to agree with you.
I thought the idea was to loan him back to France to further his development as MA and his staff believe he isn’t ready to play for us yet as he had a pretty crap season last year with injuries and the death of his mum. So it would make sense to send him back there.
I can see the logic though of sending him to a EPL team, he will learn alot more if he is played.
Both Leeds and Fulham have pros and cons.
Staying in London to aid his settlement would be great for teh young lad and he will see how tough the league is there as Fulham for me are going straight back down.
Leeds however, would be the better choice, working with the great Bielsa and playing in that team would do wonders for him long term and also give the kid the transition he needs.
Only draw back really is moving north.
I do believe the club has his best interests at heart
That makes no sense, Saliba if loaned, should be loaned to a premier league team as mentioned in this article.
What is the point of Saliba going back to France, where he already established himself in a senior team?
Saliba needs to get use to the premier league.
Me too
Need to play somewhere
If Arsenal don’t keep him, Saliba should be loaned to a premier league team such as Fulham or Leeds.
There is no point loaning him back to the French league, we already know he can handle the French league, he needs to get accustomed to the Premier league.
I don’t see, first of all, how he can be classed as “our wonderkid”, when we haven’t seen him play yet!!!
Talk about setting someone up for a fall.
As for the situation regarding Saliba goes, this is another weird one from MA in my opinion.
If this report is true, why on earth would we want to give two rival clubs in the PL a player who we spent nearly two years chasing?
If he needs more playing time, is grieving for his mum and his homesick, then going back to France would seem to be the logical loan.
What I don’t understand, though,is he was ready to play in the French cup final and there was no concern about any of the above when he was being touted by St. Etienne as critical to their chances of winning said final.
Could it be that, as we have given Luiz another years contract and, to date, we haven’t moved one central defender and this seems a simple way of getting one of our payroll for a season?
Remember that Mari, Mustafi and Chambers coming back from injury, we also have Sokratis, Gabriel, Tierney, Luiz and Holding battling for the CB position and Movs out on loan.
Either that, or have we bought yet another injured player and/or unfit player – despite the claims that he is our “wonderkid.”
Your post makes perfect sense to me too Ken. A very strange situation for sure. If the kid is really homesick how would loaning him to ANY other PREM CLUB HELP AT ALL! IT CLEARLY WOULD NOT!
It needs to be remembered that MA was not here when the deal to buy him was struck and that is of major relevance in my book.
Yes Jon, your final thought did cross my mind as well, but I can’t see MA being that vindictive if the player is what we are told he is.
It will be interesting to see if this does take place, if we ship out Mustafi, Sokratis, Holding and Chambers as is rumoured – can’t see him going then.
Seems like the grieving and homesick thing isn’t the main issue. Perhaps Arteta just doesn’t think he’s ready to play for us.
Hope he’s loaned to Leeds. Probably better for his development than Fulham