William Saliba still intends to return to Arsenal at the end of this season despite reports suggesting that he could join Marseille permanently in the summer, football.london understands.
The 20-year-old joined the Gunners all the way back in the summer of 2019, but is still yet to make his senior competitive debut for Mikel Arteta's side, with his only appearances coming for the under-23s and in pre-season friendlies.
In that time he has been sent back to Ligue 1 for three separate loan spells, first with St. Etienne, then with Nice last year, and most recently with Marseille, where he has continued to impress, making 27 appearances and keeping 14 clean sheets.
L'OM have reportedly been keen to take Saliba on a permanent deal in the summer, but now it is understood that the Frenchman is instead keen on a return to the Emirates.
Playing time has been the main issue for the youngster who has been keen to get minutes under his belt as he seeks to continue his development.
With the arrival of £50 million signing Ben White in the summer, and Rob Holding, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers all ahead of him in the pecking order, it was decided that Saliba would be best served spending the season back in France after meetings between his representatives and Gunners technical director Edu.
However, with Mari having moved on loan to Udinese and Chambers' contract set to expire at the end of the season, it appears there could be a spot in the squad for the Frenchman to come back into for next campaign.
Saliba could also offer cover at right back having spent time in the position while at Marseille, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Hector Bellerin both set to leave permanently this summer, and Cedric not deemed a stylistically similar enough fit to be back up for Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The news that the 20-year-old wants to return in the summer echoes the sentiments of manager Mikel Arteta, who stated back in September that he was still part of his plans.
"He will come back for pre-season and he will be with us," the Spaniard said.
"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."
