Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal are looking at ‘different options’ for William Saliba amid reports he will return to France on loan this season.
Saliba is said to be in talks with Rennes over a potential loan move despite only returning to Arsenal this summer.
He had been expected to be a part of Mikel Arteta’s squad this season after finally linking up with his Arsenal team-mates following a season on loan with former club St Etienne.
However, it’s clear the French defender is not operating at the required level yet and Arteta left him out of the Carabao Cup squad to face Liverpool.
And he now looks as if he will be heading out of the exit door as Arteta hopes the 19-year-old can ‘transition’ to the standards required at the Emirates.
‘Well as I explained, the difficult year that the player had and the plan that we had for him, for the transition year, we could not achieve,’ said Arteta ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Sheffield United.
‘We are looking at different options to try to have the best possible development for the player and to protect our intentions with William for the future.
‘We want to both be aligned and make the best decision for now and for the future.’
There could be several comings and goings before the transfer window closes next week, with Arteta stressing the importance of Arsenal making moves in the market.
‘We need to make some decisions in the next three days, I think everything has been delayed so much, not just us but probably every team because of the context that we’re in at the moment.
‘We will try to make the best possible decisions and at the end, whatever we have, we go for it fully convinced and prepared to have a good season.’
