Arsenal name transfer price for William Saliba amid Marseille interest despite seeing defender as ‘the future’
ARSENAL will reportedly demand over £27million from Marseille for promising defender William Saliba.
Saliba is currently enjoying a successful loan spell with the French giants, who are keen on making his move from Arsenal a permanent one.
Discussions between the two clubs over a fee for the player, 20, are set to get underway this month, according to L’Equipe.
But Arsenal rate the young defender highly and for that reason are ‘certain’ to ask for more than the £27m they paid Saint-Etienne to sign him back in 2019.
Mikel Arteta sees Saliba as a player for the future at the Emirates, and recently insisted he was part of the club’s ‘long-term plans’.
But Marseille are desperate to keep the France Under-21 international at the club.
Although the £27m asking price is claimed to be out of their price range.
Another loan spell has been touted as an option, but even that would be more expensive second time around, especially with other clubs in Europe sniffing around.
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Club president Pablo Longoria previously said he wants to use their ‘extraordinary’ relationship with Arsenal to hang on to Saliba..
Longoria told local daily La Provence: “Keeping hold of William is a three-way matter for Arsenal, who own him, as well as for the player himself and for Marseille.
“We need to take a look at our possibilities. He is very happy here with us, and we are very satisfied with his performances.
“William is one of the best young defenders I have ever seen in my career.
“In the end it will all depend on the three parties. It is a real question of what he is worth on the transfer market.
“But we have an extraordinary relationship with Arsenal.”
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