Arsenal's £27million exile William Saliba wants to go out on loan - but the Gunners don’t want him to join a club doing better in the Premier League.
The Gunners, dumped out of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by Manchester City on Tuesday, are 14th in the Premier League table.
They are on a run of seven games without a win, losing five and drawing the other two.
Arsenal beat Tottenham to the signing of teenage defender Saliba, then 18, from Saint-Etienne in July last year.
Saliba signed a five-year deal but continued his development with the Ligue 1 club last season, before joining Arsenal in the summer.
His only appearances this season, however, have come in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy.
Now his representatives want him to go out on loan with a host of clubs in England and on the continent keen.
Arsenal would prefer him to return to France or to play elsewhere outside the Premier League, mindful of the optics of the youngster helping another club to do well amid their struggles.
Asked why Saliba was not involved with Tuesday night’s City defeat - while rookie keeper Alex Runarsson was - boss Mikel 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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