Arsenal blamed for William Saliba transfer falling through as former side Saint-Etienne miss out on loan return
Saint-Etienne have criticised Arsenal over their failure to sanction Wiliam Saliba's return to the club in time.
The Ligue 1 outfit claim they had a deal lined up for the defender 'long before the transfer window closed' but it fell through due to admin issues from Arsenal.
Saliba, who joined the Gunners from Saint Etienne in a £27million deal last summer, was set to rejoin the French club for the remainder of the campaign.
A statement on Saint Etienne’s official website read: “Long before the transfer window closed, AS Saint-Etienne had reached an agreement with William Saliba and accepted Arsenal's offer for a one-season loan.
“Unfortunately, all the administrative conditions could not be met in time, in England, for the completion of the deal.
“The disappointment is great for ASSE and William Saliba, who was particularly determined to return to a club where he has flourished.”
The centre-back, 19, was expected to link up with Mikel Arteta's squad this season having made his first-team bow against Liverpool in the Community Shield final.
Arteta recently commented his belief that Saliba needed another 'transition year', after the Ligue 1 season was curtailed because of coronavirus.
He said: "He had year last where essentially loaned him to Saint-Etienne and that was a transition year for him.
"For many reasons, that wasn’t the transition year that he needed.
"He had a lot of injuries, he had some personal issues and obviously with COVID and the French league getting cancelled, he didn’t have that year, so he needs that year of transition.
"He needs that year of transition and we are trying to make the right decisions for him to make the best possible year of transition for him to have the player we want for our future."
Rennes and Fulham were also hoping to land the teenager on loan this summer.