The French Players’ Union have announced their nominees for the 2021/22 season awards, with William Saliba receiving a nomination.

Marseille's French defender William Saliba (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe during the French L1 football match between Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) and Olympique Marseille (OM) at The Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on April 17, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Marseille’s French defender William Saliba (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe during the French L1 football match between Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) and Olympique Marseille (OM) at The Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on April 17, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

The UNFP (via GFFN) announced their nominees for various season awards this week, with William Saliba up for their Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award.

Saliba will compete with Arnaud Kalimuendo of Lens, Castello Lukeba of Lyon, Nuno Mendes of PSG, and Khéphren Thuram of Nice for the final prize.

We won’t have to wait too long to find out the winners, with the awards ceremony set for May 15th.

Saliba (21) has made 49 appearances for Marseille this season, helping them to second in the Ligue 1 standings and the Europa Conference League semi-final – the second leg of which he’ll play on Thursday.

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The defender has been remarkably present in Marseille’s team, only missing three games in all competitions in the entire season.

Combined with how well he’s played in those games, that consistent run earned him his senior debut for the French national team in March.

Marseille's French defender William Saliba looks on during the UEFA Europa Conference League match between Basel and Marseille (OM) at the St. Jakob-Park Stadium in Basel, northern Switzerland, on March 17, 2022. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
Marseille’s French defender William Saliba looks on during the UEFA Europa Conference League match between Basel and Marseille (OM) at the St. Jakob-Park Stadium in Basel, northern Switzerland, on March 17, 2022. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

French outlet Le Phoceen recently reported that Marseille president Pablo Longoria is attempting to convince Saliba to remain in France beyond the end of his loan spell.

Longoria is in talks with the player and his representatives, arguing that Saliba needs to keep starting every match to have the best chance of making France’s World Cup squad this year.

Saliba has expressed an interest in staying with Marseille, but won’t make a decision until he’s held talks with Arsenal.

The Athletic report that if William Saliba decides to move on from Arsenal this summer, he’d have other options in France, Spain, and England.

Sam Dean added in March that Arsenal were yet to open discussions with Saliba over his future at the club, but those talks were expected to take place soon.

At that stage, Dean suggests Arsenal haven’t given an indication over whether they’ll be offering Saliba a new deal, with his current contract to expire in 2024.

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