Olympique Marseille have been dealt a boost in their efforts to sign Arsenal defender William Saliba, with French football's financial watchdog the DNCG approving their summer spending plan.
Saliba was one of Marseille's star performers last season after joining on loan from the Gunners, and helped Jorge Sampaoli's team qualify for the Champions League. L'OM have already wrapped up a permanent deal for fellow Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi, and remain keen to add Saliba - who has since become a full French international - to their ranks.
A summer move won't be easy, with Arsenal still considering the 21-year-old to be in their plans and Mikel Arteta appearing keen to bring him back into the fold at the Emirates. However, one of the other big obstacles has now been removed.
According to RMC Sport, Marseille plan to be “ambitious without overspending”. This comes after owner Frank McCourt satisfied the DNCG's concerns by making financial guarantees.
The Ligue 1 runners-up had been provisionally suspended from transfer activity due to their financial situation last season, but the new developments remove one of the obstacles in the way of a move for Saliba. However, there is still the small matter of convincing Arsenal to part ways with a player who cost them £27million back in 2019.
According to Foot Mercato, Marseille remain keen on a permanent move. However, other reports suggest their summer business could be impacted by their ability to offload other squad members including Dutch international Kevin Strootman and former Aston Villa defender Jordan Amavi.
Where will Saliba be playing next season? Have your say in the comments section
Saliba played in 36 of Marseille's 38 Ligue 1 games last season as they pipped Monaco to second spot and an automatic place in next season's Champions League group stages. He also earned a first senior France appearance while on loan at the Stade Velodrome, winning the first of his five caps in March.
The defender has expressed his desire to stay in the south of France, but Arsenal consider him part of their plans for the upcoming campaign. Mikel Arteta allowed Saliba to leave on loan, with Ben White and Gabriel the first-choice partnership at the back last term, but the Gunners manager has made his feelings clear as Arsenal look to push for a top-four finish.
"He has to come back," Arteta told RMC Sport in May. "He has the experience and the environment necessary to be competitive with us. If he had stayed with us this year, with a match of Premier League a week, with Ben White and Gabriel, he wouldn't have had half the playing time he had with Marseille, that's for sure.
"For his growth and what he can do next season that wouldn't have been good. William wasn't with us because he wouldn't have had the playing time to gain experience. That's it, there's nothing else. We made the right decision."
