Arsenal sold six players in the January transfer window which was more than any other club in the Premier League, and the trimming of the squad may not even end there.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, William Saliba, on loan at Marseille, is a target for La Liga giants Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
The news comes near the time that Arsenal announced the signing of a new center-back on transfer deadline day as Auston Trusty joined the Gunners from MLS side Colorado Rapids, a move which Saliba will have seen an unfold with a level of confusion.
Mikel Arteta should be doing everything in his power to ensure that Saliba remains at the club, and is a part of the first-team plans for next season.
Arsenal’s January transfer window took a shocking twist when Calum Chambers was announced as an Aston Villa player.
This deal came after Pablo Mari had also departed the club on a loan move, with a summer transfer seemingly inevitable for the Spaniard.
The sale of Chambers and Mari has left Mikel Arteta’s side extremely short in the defensive positions, with there only being three centre-back’s that are currently available at the club.
Saliba has been sent out on loan twice since Arteta took over as Gunners boss which angered sections of supporters as they believed he was ready to be a first-team regular.
The start of the next season will give fans a clear idea of whether Saliba is still a part of Arsenal’s future, or if he will be deemed surplus to requirements.
In his recent loan at Marseille, he has shown the maturity required to be a regular Premier League centre-back, as he has currently played more minutes than any other player aged 20 and under in Europe's top five leagues.
Edu should be doing everything in his power to reject Real Madrid‘s Saliba advances because he has shown his quality during his loan move at Marseille, and he could be a crucial part of Arteta’s rebuilding process, especially if he challenges Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White for a starting position.
The Gunners are building a young team with promising potential, which certainly suits the mold of Saliba, and Arteta shouldn’t sell a player with such a high ceiling.
His height and athletic prowess mean he's the perfect build for a defender looking to make waves in the English game, and with a senior call-up to the French national team potentially on the cards, Arsenal must assure him that he has a future at the club, as he will be an important asset for years ahead.
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