Newcastle United and Lille want Arsenal defender on loan

Newcastle United and Lille are among the clubs interested in signing William Saliba on a season-long loan.

The Frenchman joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019, but he has yet to make his competitive debut for the club.

He spent the second half of last season on loan with Nice, and The Athletic claims that he could be loaned out again.

The Gunners are on the verge of signing Ben White from Brighton & Hove Albion as a replacement for David Luiz.

Saliba was anticipated to get the chance, but manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly told him to gain more experience.

The Magpies are keen on landing him on a temporary basis, having previously loaned Joe Willock from the Gunners.

However, they face stiff competition from Lille, who were recently crowned Ligue 1 champions after a decade.

Saliba's agent is expected to hold talks with the Gunners in the coming days to sort out another loan deal for his client.