Arsenal: Mikel Arteta tipped to cash in on £21.6m star this summer

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may consider letting William Saliba leave the club permanently this summer, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Saliba is currently on loan at Marseille, but is due to return to the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.

Saliba does not turn 21 until later this month, but he has played with great maturity at Marseille in Ligue 1 this term.

He has started all but one of the side’s top-flight games to date, and has helped them move into contention for a Champions League spot for next season.

According to WhoScored, he has been Marseille’s second-best player in 2021/22, behind Dimitri Payet, having received an average game rating of 6.92. He has made more interceptions (36) and clearances (61) than any of his teammates.

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Saliba is yet to make a senior appearance for Arsenal, yet he does still have over two years remaining on his contract.

Following his impressive campaign at Marseille, Brown expects other clubs to be interested in signing him this summer, and he believes Arteta could be open to letting the £21.6m-rated defender move on for good if the Gunners receive an appropriate offer.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about Saliba, Brown said: “I think there’ll be bids for him in the summer, and if any of them come in at a certain level, it wouldn’t surprise me if Arteta says: ‘Yes, you can go.’”

Arsenal signed Saliba back in 2019, but Arteta has not seemed to fancy him, which has led to the 6 foot 4 centre-back being sent out on loan to three different French clubs.

Given his age, Arteta may have simply thought that Saliba wasn’t ready for the rigours of the Premier League, but he has proven this