Despite spending around €20m on William Saliba, Arsenal have yet to really give the young defender a chance.
A loan back to Saint-Etienne was included in the original deal, but once that ended, it became very clear that Mikel Arteta didn’t see him as ready for the Gunners’ first-team.
Forced to sit out much of the first half of the season, the centre-back was then sent to Nice on loan, where, alongside Jean-Clair Todibo, he got the game time he wanted.
Once again returning to the Emirates, there was hope from a chunk of the Arsenal fanbase this season could be the one for him to get some minutes in England, but that won’t be the case, as he’s on the verge of signing for Marseille.
That’s no secret, nor is the fact he has already travelled to the south of France, having been photographed with some fans on Tuesday afternoon, but the deal has still not been announced.
In the meantime, Marseille have made official the arrivals of Pau Lopez and Luan Peres, but Saliba’s is still to come.
La Provence have a look at the matter on Thursday, claiming the two clubs are still searching for a ‘suitable solution’ regarding the player’s dry loan to the Ligue 1 side.
What the sticking point is isn’t revealed, but, rest assured, it’s quite clear from the local newspaper that a deal should be done in the near future.
So, no panicking needed, as they state the announcement should ‘soon follow’ those of the aforementioned two.
