Arsenal make shock William Saliba u-turn for pre-season

What will happen to William Saliba this summer has been one of the hot topics. Returning from his six-month loan spell with Nice, excitement over his Arsenal comeback was tempered by fears of another exit.

Ben White’s arrival threw a spanner in the works. Saliba, it was felt, was the heir to David Luiz in the Arsenal defence as he provided the progressive qualities the Brazilian brought to the team with the additional benefit of youth, pace and promise.

Of course, White coming in for a deal that will be worth round £50m pushed him down the pecking order, which prompted stories to emerge from across the UK and elsewhere that another departure from north London was on the cards.

A permanent sale was heavily mooted but another loan move was deemed the more likely outcome, even if one of those had every chance of including an obligation to buy attached. Whatever would happen to Saliba wasn’t expected to take place in north London.

Arsenal make shock William Saliba u-turn for pre-season as defender withdraws from France squad ahead of uncertain future in summer transfer window

With reports that he would be given his chance in pre-season taking a backseat, they were cast aside entirely as the 20-year-old was called up to the French national team for their Summer Olympics involvement in Tokyo.

Arsenal will never stand in the way of players featuring for their countries, as seen with Gabriel and possibly Gabriel Martinelli, therefore Saliba would join his teammates in potentially missing the entirety of pre-season.

The tournament, which takes place between July 21 and August 7, happens slap bang in the middle of the Gunners’ pre-season plans, which includes a trip to the USA.

However, there has been a twist in the tale with the defender withdrawing from France’s squad alongside Amine Gouiri, Malang Sarr, Eduardo Camavinga and Maxence Caqueret, as per Get French Football News.

Numerous players were called up without their club’s permission but nonetheless, due to Arsenal’s stance on the matter, Saliba was expected to go.

With the player’s agent holding talks with Edu at London Colney on Tuesday, it appears as if a decision has been made there for a change of heart. Meeting to discuss the next course of action with Saliba, whatever the next stage is, it won’t be in Japan.

So what does this mean for the £27m signing? Well, there are two possibilities.

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