French outlet But Football claim an agreement has almost been reached.
Saliba spent last season on loan with the Ligue 1 side and there was hope that he would be involved in Arsenal’s first team upon his return.
But he has been unable to force his way into Mikel Arteta’s plans, and now looks set to leave the club again.
“I’m fed up with the situation because, as you could see, we tried to find a way in the last few days to give him some football,” the Arsenal boss said.
DON’T MISS…
Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe proved Thierry Henry and Jose Mourinho right
Mikel Arteta gives strong update on Folarin Balogun’s Arsenal future
Arsenal fans aim dig at Man Utd star after Folarin Balogun strike
“I explained that he needed that transition year when we decided to buy him and send him on loan to Saint-Etienne. For many reasons, that didn’t happen – he didn’t have that transition year and he needs to go through that.
“At the moment, with the amount of central defenders we have in the team, we had to leave him out of the squad, which is painful.
“Now we have some injuries and we could have used him but this is part of the profession.”