Arsenal defender William Saliba is reportedly 'open' to making his loan at Marseille permanent on one condition - they qualify for the Champions League.
Saliba, who joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne back in 2019, has been a standout performer for Marseille this season, notching a 14th clean sheet at the weekend.
The £27million centre back has yet to make a competitive first team appearance for Arsenal and La Provence has now reported that Saliba is considering the idea of staying with Marseille should they secure a Champions League spot for 2022-23.
The top three teams in Ligue 1 qualify for the Champions League, with the top two in the division going directly to the group stages.
Marseille currently sit third and are on course, two points behind Nice, who are second, and 13 points adrift of runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Saliba, 20, immediately returned on loan to Saint-Etienne in 2019-20 before another spell out on loan at Nice.
He joined Marseille last summer on a loan deal and he has stood out at the back for Sampaoli's side.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has previously stressed that Saliba is in Arsenal's long-term plans, despite the fact they spent a combined £70m on Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Arteta said back in September: 'He will come back for pre-season and he will be with us. Hopefully he will come back after playing a number of games and his performance raising and his development progressing in the right way. That's why we made that decision.
'I know that sometimes it's difficult to explain or understand after the money that the club has spent trying to bring him in, to send him on loan.'
Saliba's only Arsenal experience to date has been limited to playing in the Papa John's EFL trophy with Arsenal's U21 side.
He also appeared in a pre-season friendly against MK Dons.
What works against Marseille, should they look to turn his loan into a permanent, is that they are currently embroiled in a battle with FIFA over a transfer ban, which they they have appealed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The ban was delivered due to Marseille's involvement in a long-running transfer dispute over Pape Gueye with Watford.
The Senegal international had signed a pre-contract agreement but later backed out on that and signed a four-year deal with Marseille, a decision which the English side took to appeal.
Marseille are now fighting the judgement and that is of paramount importance if they plan on keeping hold of Saliba beyond June.
Javimor
0
Arteta has his favourite players
hundkntuy
0
Arteta is a monster. (Ozil,Guendouzi, Aubameyang and saliba)
seanhunter9
2
Xhaka been getting red cars for choking players and kicking ppl in the chest, but he always finds his way back into the team. Guendouzi has one situation and is banned from the squad. Arteta is more of a coach and less of a manager.
seanhunter9
1
Mf fvk off!!if you think you can have such a big ego as a teen.This is Arsenal fc not some crybabies fc.You have to prove your worth,if you can't then bye
who would want to come back to arsenal knowing arteta doesnt like you.
Andy_Mac
1
Mf fvk off!!if you think you can have such a big ego as a teen.This is Arsenal fc not some crybabies fc.You have to prove your worth,if you can't then bye
Did Arsenal give him a fair chance? You need to think about this first before judging him so harshly. And it's not like you've got world beaters at Arsenal [Crylaugh] When noob defenders like Chambers and Holding can get so many opportunities, why not Saliba?
dantai08
0
Why is this giving me the feeling that it is turning out to be another Serge Gnarby situation again 😩
Bibcekors
0
If he truly doesn't want to come back, then it's good bye from us. We don't need players who don't want to be here
if you were the one would u really want to be there, be sincere, be in a team where the coach won't play u or not trust ur ability.
AB1604
3
This reminds me of Eto'o saga with Real Madrid. 4 years on their payroll never to play a a mtach and eventually signed for Barcelona and destroyed Real Madrid's dream on numerous occasions. Saliba might just do that and hurt Gunners in future.
Dixonmande
2
imagine a coach who retains a player like chambers in the squad n sell a player like saliba,,,,n u expect arsenal to improve???
gunnersrajiv
2
fucked off Arteta
Miockmnt
2
another enemy of arteta. how many more before arteta is sacked
Hibdikmryz
1
some Arsenal fans talk like for the past 10 years they are winning every trophy but aaaaaahhhhhh not even Europa conference leaque if Arsenal is like real Madrid they won't walk on this earth
Hibdikmryz
2
please saliba never come back when useless coach Arteta is a head coach of useless Arsenal they can't make it to even Europa conference leaque... think well you are far better than some defenders we spent huge amount of money
youngbutty
1
I can't blame arteta, because he's not Good players as well, what do y expect for him,olodo coach
vawbdknoru
1
Who says we want him back. We are set at the back
set with holding and chambers? If one of the centers go down (in a season full of corvid and injury), would you still be set?
humadcast
0
50m + buy back clause and he is urs
oabdel01
1
He is not to blame. Arsenal wouldn’t let him play and Marseille does. What would you do?
Mimacdeiko
0
Who says we want him back. We are set at the back
Humancal44
2
If he truly doesn't want to come back, then it's good bye from us. We don't need players who don't want to be here
Vezonic22
1
Imagine calling yourself a team's player and have never play a single match. No, you're just a purchase and nothing else. All the best with the other team..
Aluko Blessing
0
it's all FALLACY!...... Flying Fake news!
lord_henry-14
1
Mf fvk off!!if you think you can have such a big ego as a teen.This is Arsenal fc not some crybabies fc.You have to prove your worth,if you can't then bye
Sosst
1
Arsenal would be making a huge mistake letting him leave!!!! If he goes then upper management needs to be reevaluated immediately
Evans0323
1
You go nowhere
Jadacrsuy
4
the results arteta bad deads. can any one pls sack arteta and bring back loan players. trust me when I say this mavropanos and saliba is better than gabriel and white, and mateo is better than xhaka and lokanga
soccerbeast01
3
Arsenal this article made me scared don't let it happen pls
Mocmnop
2
Arsenal need to start lining up new managers seems this guy's greatest achievement is messing up player's careers and now he may even lose the one player we already own and has had a terrific season so far
sacone
4
he's on loan with no buy option, so he's coming back to arsenal at the end of the season.
Mo-klassiq
0
Then Arsenal are totally ruined 💯💯
Fath33
1
saliba have be welcom to arsenal
voselmnosu
3
Saliba is our player and with Kolasnac , Pablo Mari and Niles gone Saliba should be recalled back to the first team
AnwarJemil
5
arteta's job losing good players from squad and trying to sign someone who don't want sign for us..
zeccdiopu
7
It won’t be any loss. Player come player go. It’s funny how some of us think we know better than the coach. It was some of you begging the coach to bench Auba due to lack of goals, the same you insulting him for not playing. No matter what the coach do you people MUST talk. So let him do what his hired to do. #Gunners
Nohabiortz
1
arteta effect
Gaidi
2
it will be a big loss for Arsenal