Arsenal could sell 20-year-old center-back William Saliba this summer as part of an expected squad review, as the Gunners approach hiring Brighton defender Ben White.
Arsenal invested close to £ 30 million in signing Saliba from Saint-Etienne in 2019 at a time when the then teenager had only made 19 senior appearances. He then spent an injured first season on loan at his former club and was then loaned out in Nice during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign after failing to break Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Arteta commented at the end of the club that season that Saliba ‘is our player and he will surely come back here’, which apparently suggests that the Frenchman would get a chance to try to prove himself. But in the same breath, Arteta suggested that the club will hold talks with each player about their role next season and a decision to keep them will be made after that.
“We will make a decision based on an agreement on what role each player will play in our team,” the Gunners boss explained.
Arteta also said at the end of the club campaign that the summer will provide a replacement for David Luiz, who has been earmarked for release at the end of his contract next week. There was a possibility that could have been Saliba, but it is now more likely that it is white.
According to football.london, Saliba represents the “former regime” and can now be sold along with other players considered to be in excess of the requirements, a list that also includes Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira and Dinos Mavropanos.
Saliba has never played for Arsenal but does not seem to have a future at the club / John Berry / Getty Images
Xhaka and Mavropanos were signed by Arsene Wenger, and while the arrival of Saliba and Guendouzi was confirmed after the departure of the legendary former boss, they bear his stamp.
It is said that Arsenal are considering the best option for Saliba for the new season. It is unlikely that they will get back their investment in the player after a disappointing couple of years but could look to arrange a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
Player sales and other departures will be an important part of Arsenal’s operations this summer. 90 minutes recently revealed that the Gunners could spend close to £ 250 million on new players in key positions across the pitch to provide Arteta with a squad that can climb back up the Premier League table and return to the Champions League.
There is a lot of work to be done for Mikel Arteta / Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
Arsenal initially focus their search on a new goalkeeper, center-back, full-back and two central midfielders.
In addition to White, Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Norwich right-back Max Aarons and midfield trio Albert Sambi Lokonga, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison from Anderlecht, Brighton and Leicester respectively are all players the Gunners are interested in.
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