Arsenal defender William Saliba ‘could be sent on loan to a Championship club’

Arsenal are reportedly hoping to send 19-year-old defender William Saliba on loan to a Championship club in the next week. 

Despite the transfer window coming to a close on Monday, Premier League clubs can still do business with those in the Championship until October 16.

And this has opened up the possibility of Arsenal finding a temporary home for their teenage centre-back, who was this week omitted from Mikel Arteta’s Europa League squad, according to Goal.

First-team appearances will be at a premium for the teenage defender at Arsenal this season

Saliba has yet to feature for the Gunners this season, and came close to rejoining former club Saint-Etienne on loan for a second time in this window.

But a switch failed to materialise before the transfer window closed on Monday night. 

Saint-Etienne have been left unhappy by the Gunners for allowing Saliba’s proposed loan move to fall through despite having a deal agreed ‘long before the transfer window closed’. 

Mikel Arteta this week left the 19-year-old out of his 25-man squad for the Europa League

Promotion hopefuls Brentford are one of the clubs who have reportedly expressed an interest in taking on Saliba, with appearances in the Premier League this season likely to be at a premium. 

Arsenal technical director, Edu, has hinted that there is more business to come from the club in the next week, saying: ‘We don’t stop. Of course we’re open. We never stop.’ 

Saliba was signed for £27m last year but was immediately sent back to France to further hone his game for another season.

But two serious injuries limited him to only 15 appearances before the Ligue 1 campaign was curtailed and ultimately called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.