Atletico Madrid inquire about on-loan Arsenal defender

William Saliba has attracted the interest of LaLiga defending champions Atlético de Madrid according to L'Equipe.

Saliba, 21, joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019 for £27 million but never made an appearance for the team in official competitions. After spending some time with the club's under 23s and out on loan, he has regained the form which saw Arsenal shell that amount of money on him while he was still a greenhorn in France.

Saliba is on a season-long loan in France - his third since signing for the North London outfit - and has formed one of the most impressive centre back pairings with Duje Ćaleta-Car.

The defender has now caught Arsenal's interest again, who are considering their options on how to reintegrate him into the squad. However, they have work on their hands as Saliba, still nursing a grudge for how he was treated at Arsenal, is more than open to remaining in France.

Marseille, who have already snapped up Matteo Guendouzi from Arsenal, have declared an interest in Saliba who has also admitted to feeling at home at the club and willing to continue beyond the season.

Saliba spoke to Le Parisien before the French Ligue 1 Le Coassique against Paris Saint-Germain about his Arsenal and Marseille situation. He said: "There is always a chance [to remain at Marseille]. I do not hide that I am very happy in Marseille.

"I have developed, I have passed a milestone. If I make it into France’s squad it’s thanks to Marseille, because there is a lot of visibility.

"They are a very big club with a lot of pressure, but when you’re good there are a lot of good things that happen to you.

"We will see in May or June depending on the discussions. Today, my future, I don’t know what it is."

Those comments come after an interview from earlier in April with L'Equipe where he revealed that his return to Arsenal will be dependent on if he will start games for the club.

He told L'Equipe: "I definitely can’t settle for being on the bench at Arsenal and being happy.

"I want to be a starter. But then if I do get into the rotation as a substitute, it wouldn’t be like staying with the U23 and never being in the team."

Now, Atlético de Madrid have thrown their hat into the ring for the defender and the promise of UEFA Champions League football from both Marseille and Atlético could be too much for Arsenal to surmount as they attempt to convince Saliba to return to the Emirates next season.

Atlético boss Diego Simeone is reportedly behind the club's interest and is pushing for a move for the striker, who has two years to go on his Arsenal contract and is valued at €24 million (£20 million).

Saliba haa also claimed that his Arsenal travails made him better. "What happened to me has seen me forge a stronger mentality," he said. "It’s not because you cost €30 million that you’re going to play. I see things positively. 

"Even if there are moments where you ask yourself questions. For six months, I could see I was the only one in the squad that wasn’t playing, that would hurt."

Arsenal could be losing Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in the summer, with the matter being courted by Barcelona. The Gunners will have a lot in their plate to deal with as a lot of other departures are expected from the Emirates in the summer.

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