Montfermeil coach Abdelaziz Kaddour, who worked with William Saliba before his move to Saint-Etienne, believes that the teenager will be on the move again soon after agreeing a deal to join Arsenal.
The 18-year-old was unveiled as the third signing of the summer for the Gunners but will not be available to play competitive football until the 2020/21 season.
After a breakthrough campaign in Ligue 1, he has been loaned back to Les Verts for another year to ready himself for the Premier League.
Kaddour has high hopes for the youngster, who left Montfermeil in 2016 for Saint-Etienne.
However, speaking in an interview with 20 Minutes in France, translated by Get French Football News , the coach admitted his surprise over Saliba's switch to Arsenal.
"Honestly, I did not think that William would be transferred this summer," he said.
"He himself wanted to have a full season in Ligue 1 with Saint-Etienne before looking at a possible departure.
"He often reminds me that he hasn’t proven anything yet, even if he has an exceptional potential.
"But English clubs who can put down as much money as €30million, it is not a lot for them for an upcoming talent."
Yet according Kaddour, Saliba has the potential to leave Arsenal behind once he has established himself as a leading Premier League player.
The Montfermeil coach has tipped his former charge to follow in the footsteps of Matthijs De Ligt and Virgil Van Dijk, and potentially soon Harry Maguire, to be signed for a record-breaking sum for a defender.
"If William has two good seasons with Arsenal, he could be sold again for €80million, €100million," he said. "Who knows."
