Marseille boss Jorge Sampaoli confirms his desire to keep on-loan Arsenal defender William Saliba at the club on a permanent basis.

Marseille boss Jorge Sampaoli has confirmed his desire to keep on-loan Arsenal defender William Saliba at the club on a permanent basis.

The 21-year-old joined the Ligue 1 side on a one-year loan deal last summer, and has gone on to make 51 appearances for the club so far this season.

The French defender is yet to make his senior debut for Arsenal since joining for around £27m from Saint-Etienne back in July 2019.

Saliba was immediately loaned back to Sainte Les Verts for the 2019-20 campaign, and was then loaned out to another French top-flight side in the form of Nice for last season.

Having enjoyed a positive loan spell in the 2021-22 campaign though, Sampaoli has spoken of his interest in acquiring Saliba on a permanent deal at the Orange Velodrome.

Speaking ahead of Marseille's trip to Rennes on Saturday, Sampaoli said: "William's progress is linked to his development this season and the maturity he now has and his playing time. He is now consistent, he's grown up as a player.

"In relation to his situation at the club, I hope that there is a possibility for us to retain a player like him, who knows the team. But I don't know if it depends on OM, William or Arsenal, I don't know the possibilities in this case."

Having secured a continental qualification place for next season, Marseille and Saliba will be out to confirm the runners-up spot in Ligue 1 when they travel to Roazhon Park at the weekend. body check tags ::

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