WILLIAM SALIBA is set for talks with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta over his short-term future.
The French defender, 19, signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2019 for £27million.
He was expected to be introduced into the Gunners’ first team this season after spending last term back on loan at boyhood club Saint-Etienne.
However, his only appearances have come in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy with the club’s youngsters as he claimed he was ‘locked up’ on social media.
Most recently, Saliba turned out against Leicester City Under-23s, although his former team-mate Wesley Fofana, 20, has jumped straight into the Foxes’ senior side since his £32m summer arrival.
And now L’Equipe report a showdown meeting is expected between the player’s agent and Arsenal in the coming days.
The January transfer window is just around the corner and a loan move is likely to be the best option for both parties.
That would allow Saliba to continue his development with first-team football.
Saint-Etienne are expected to go back in for him and take him back for another six months.
They almost secured a deal in the summer window to loan Saliba for the 2020-21 campaign before Arsenal pulled the plug.
However, Arteta may prefer the teenager to go to an English club.
That would help Saliba get to grips with playing in this country against older, experienced professional strikers.
He was left out of the matchday squad to face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night – despite being in the club’s Premier League squad.
Explaining the decision, Arteta said: “He cannot be involved because he’s not in the squad.
“We made that decision with him and we’ll see what we’re going to do in January. We are talking about it [loan move] yes.”
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