Arsenal defender Saliba off on loan to Marseille

Arsenal defender William Saliba will spend the upcoming season on loan at Ligue 1 side Marseille.

The 20-year-old centre-back joined the Gunners from St Etienne in 2019 on a five-year-deal for a reported £27million but has yet to make his first-team debut.

He was loaned back to St Etienne for the 2019-20 campaign and spent the second half of last season with Nice.

And Arsenal announced on Thursday the France Under 20 international would have another loan stint in his home country with a one-year stay at Marseille.

Technical director Edu told the club’s website: ‘Together with William, we have decided it will be good for his continued development to spend another season on loan.

‘William joined us as an 18-year-old, and he is still only 20, so he is still developing all the time.

‘William is a player with strong natural ability and next season has the potential to be really beneficial for him at Marseille, a good club.

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Meanwhile Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham.

Despite finishing as the Blues joint top goalscorer last term the England international has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge since the arrival of new manager Thomas Tuchel in January.