Arsenal defender William Saliba could join a Sky Bet Championship club on loan in the coming weeks.
The 19-year-old saw a deadline-day loan move to former club Saint-Etienne fall through but the PA news agency understands he could yet spend the season in the second tier.
Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne last summer for a reported £27million – but the agreement also meant he would remain with the French side for the 2019-20 campaign.
A number of injury problems, coupled with the cancellation of the Ligue 1 season following the coronavirus outbreak, meant Saliba's final year with the club did not go as planned as he made just 17 appearances.
However, the PA news agency understands Saliba – whose only appearances for the Gunners to date have been in pre-season friendlies – may still leave the Emirates Stadium.
There is a domestic-only transfer window still running, which can see Premier League clubs trade with English Football League sides until October 16 and it is understood Arsenal are now strongly considering the option of loaning Saliba to a second-tier club.
Arsenal completed the signing midfielder Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day, while Lucas Torreira moved the other way on loan and Matteo Guendouzi signed for Hertha Berlin on a season-long loan.
