Arsenal braced to lose defender William Saliba to Fulham on loan transfer but Rennes want 19-year-old defender too

ARSENAL are braced to lose defender William Saliba to Fulham on loan - but the newly-promoted side face competition from France, reports say.

The 19-year-old will have teams battling it out for him before the window closes tomorrow.

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The Gunners want him to go out and get experience this season and Craven Cottage looks his most likely destination.

But the defender is also wanted by French side Rennes, according to .

And Saliba has been linked to Leeds recently as well.

It points to a three-way battle for the teen and a dramatic deadline day to come.

Rennes would likely have the edge, being able to offer Saliba a return to his homeland and Champions League football.

But Arsenal may prefer a move to a Premier League club to help him acclimatize to the division.

Manager Mikel Arteta has previously spoke about Saliba needing another "transition year" - despite the fact Arsenal loaned him back to Saint-Etienne last year.

He said: "He had year last where Arsenal 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."