French club want to sign Arsenal defender permanently

Marseille president Pablo Longoria has confirmed that the club are interested in signing Arsenal defender William Saliba on a permanent basis.

The centre-back was loaned out to the Ligue 1 club last summer. He has since been an instrumental player for them in all competitions.

Saliba recently acknowledged that he is happy at Les Phoceens. Longoria has now admitted that the club would like to sign him permanently.

However, he added that the deal will largely depend on the market value, and the Gunners' stance on the Frenchman during the summer.

He told La Provence: "It's a three-way question. For the club that owns the player, Arsenal, the player and Marseille. We have to see our possibilities."

"William is one of the best young defenders I have seen in my career. After all, everything depends on the three parties. It's a matter of market value."

Saliba will enter the final two years of his Gunners deal this summer, but reports claim that he could be rewarded with an improved contract.

He has yet to make his competitive debut for the Gunners, but manager Mikel Arteta has been impressed by his progress in the French top tier.