Arsenal are holding another round of talks for St. Etienne defender William Saliba, though the Ligue 1 side still want him back on loan this season.

Manu Lonjon of Yahoo Sport FR reported on Wednesday that Arsenal were holding another round of talks with St. Etienne over the signing of 18-year-old centre-back William Saliba. Lonjon suggested a deal was ‘getting closer’.

St. Etienne have no plan to back down on their plan to keep Saliba for at least one more season.

Club president Bernard Caiazzo confirmed on Thursday (via ButFootballClub) that this is an imperative condition of Saliba’s transfer, and one with which the player is also on board.

“Our accounts are in balance,” Caiazzo said. “It is not vital to sell him. We know that there are offers and that his future probably entails a departure to a European Top club. But there is no urgency.”

“He will stay this season. It is an imperative condition if we come to an agreement for his transfer. Conditions have been clearly defined.

“It’s also William’s wish. He wants to wear the green jersey this season, to play the Europa League. And it is his interest to continue to develop before leaving.”

If you were in Saliba’s position, you’d probably be in favour of the same thing. Why transfer to Arsenal immediately at 18 years old when you already have a guaranteed starting spot with your current club?

Thanks to Arsenal’s collapse late last season, there’s no Champions League football to tempt Saliba away. He already has Europa League football with St. Etienne, so that’s not a selling point either.

Joining the Gunners is surely appealing in the long term, but right now the player would probably prefer to develop his game somewhere he knows he’ll get regular minutes.