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.

Continued…

What Will Happen to William Saliba at Arsenal?

On the one hand this could infer that what was rumoured, and said by Mikel Arteta before the season concluded, is coming true and Saliba will be given his chance to impress in pre-season.

As mentioned, Gabriel’s absence opens up a huge opportunity for the Frenchman to stake a claim in either centre-back position, having spent nearly the entirety of his spell with Nice in the left centre-back slot in a back four.

Pablo Mari is the only other option while the Brazilian is away – academy prospects will also be given a chance – with Rob Holding and possibly White in the other position. That said, it’s also highly unlikely that White will be linking up with Arsenal in time for their opening pre-season matches against Hibernian and Rangers with England well-placed to reach the final of the European Championships.

His extended break (should he sign, of course) will also be likely to rule him out of the trip to Florida, with the first game of that tour against Inter taking place on July 25.

This is a huge opportunity for the defender to impress his manager, who has been reluctant to hand him his chance thus far.

What this Olympics decision can also mean, however, is to speed up a loan move. It’s still widely reported that a temporary, or permanent, move is on the cards for Saliba and with no involvement for the national team it could move that transfer forward.

Even if it does go ahead to one of the dozens of clubs interested in the Premier League and Europe, he will still be given minutes in pre-season before a final decision is made. He deserves that at the very least.

It’s a surprise call from the club and clearly has come about following the agent’s talks with Edu, which must have been encouraging. Furthermore, Saliba would have only been withdrawn from the France squad with his blessing, which means his focus must be strongly pointed towards making the impression most believe he can make. It was either France’s or his decision, and given he was selected, it appears to have been a personal choice.

A very interesting development and one that means pre-season is now on the cards once again. It will do him the world of good.