William Saliba makes Arsenal future decision amid rumours

It’s all about who Arsenal are going to bring in this January and who they may be able to move out in time. Transfer talk is unmissable, placing other areas of the squad on the backburner.

William Saliba’s immediate future is one that needn’t draw concern. With just over five months left on his loan deal at Marseille, his development has been monitored closely by Ben Knapper and the rest of the loan department as it always was.

This month has seen new temporary moves secured, though, including Tyreece John-Jules’ move to Sheffield Wednesday, who was recalled from his spell at Blackpool over a lack of minutes. There will be no such occurrence with Saliba, however, whose loan does not include such an option.

Nonetheless, worries have begun to mount.

William Saliba makes Arsenal future decision amid rumours he wants to quit Mikel Arteta’s side in the summer transfer window

As per reports from Marseille-based outlet La Provence (via SportWitness), Saliba is growing increasingly attached to his surroundings and hasn’t forgotten about what he ‘suffered’ during his time in north London. In his defence, it was hardly the smoothest transition into Premier League life. It has not been the dream arrival he had hoped for.

However, as per football.london’s Chris Wheatley, these claims are wide of the mark: Saliba still intends to return to Arsenal in the summer when his loan move concludes.

What happens after that remains to be seen, but there is no clearer pathway into the first team for him than the one being opened up.

There is no apparent future for Pablo Mari in north London, who just joined Udinese on loan for the rest of the season, and Calum Chambers’ deal expires in the summer – who even with an optional extra year isn’t expected to stay – opening the door for Saliba to challenge in the team.

No player in any of Europe’s top five leagues have played more minutes than the Frenchman this season, and while he is yet to make a senior appearance for Arsenal, he can have few finer experience playing regular league and European football. He has been given all the development time he could possibly hope for.

Talk will need to take place on a new contract, however, with the 20-year-old tied down until 2024 and the elusive two-year period prior to his deal being terminated will call for either fresh terms or, indeed, a sale.

Reports of him wanting out of Arsenal have been shut down though, and the next step is working on his contract situation.