Charles Watts has questioned Marseille’s ability to find the funds needed to convince Arsenal to sell William Saliba, as much as they wish to re-sign him.
The 21 year-old enjoyed a thoroughly impressive season on loan with the Olympiens, helping them to secure a place in the Champions League with a second-placed finish in Ligue 1, picking up the Young Player of the Year award in the process.
While they are claimed to be keen on bringing him back from north London ahead of the new season, Arsenal appear to have made their intention to include him in their first-team squad for the upcoming campaign clear, yet they do not seem ready to give up on his return just yet.
Watts insists that it would take an offer outside of Marseille’s budget to strike a deal with the Gunners however.
“It’d be it’d be big money, he’s still got two years left has contract, he stated on his YouTube channel. “He’s a fully fledged international now, he is Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year.
“You’re talking big, big money. And I just can’t see Marseille being able to afford that and doing what else they want to do in the summer transfer window.
“So they can they can continue to test the water all they want, but I’d be very, very surprised if we see any sort of thing happened with this Marseille stuff certainly.
“Unless he comes in doesn’t get any sort of chance in preseason, and it looks very clear that [Mikel] Arteta still doesn’t fancy him.”
It does seem crazy to consider his sale at this point, unless he fails to convince Mikel Arteta in pre-season that he is ready for his team of course. At 21 year-old he could well be ready, if his last 12 months are anything to come by, but the manager has his own thinking and it could well be that he doesn’t see an important role for him.
I don’t see why we should consider a sale this summer, not without giving him a fair shot at breaking into the first-team, but if a club is willing to come in with an offer of £50 Million or more than it could prove tempting.
Patrick
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