Arsenal are reportedly plotting a swoop for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White as they look to bolster their defensive unit this summer.
According to a report from The Athletic, Arsenal are interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Ben White in the ongoing transfer window and are now readying an offer for the Englishman.
Having been released by the Southampton academy, White joined the Brighton youth setup in 2014 and progressed through the ranks before going on loan at Newport County and Peterborough United. However, it was his temporary stint with Leeds United during the 2019/20 campaign that put the 23-year-old firmly on the map.
White played a critical role in helping the Whites return to Premier League after a long wait of sixteen years, following which he enjoyed a highly impressive debut campaign in the top-flight. As a result, he has been constantly linked with a number of big clubs in England. Indeed, the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United have been interested in the Englishman, with Arsenal also joining them now.
Arsenal are in the market for defensive reinforcements this summer after David Luiz was released upon the expiry of his contract. While Mikel Arteta does have quite a few options in Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, Gabriel Magalhaes, Calum Chambers and William Saliba, who is returning after a loan spell, none of the aforementioned players have been convincing enough on a consistent basis.
Besides, Saliba is touted to leave Arsenal yet again this summer, which would leave an opening within the squad that would need to be addressed with the signing of a new centre-back. Sevilla’s French centre-back Jules Kounde had emerged as a transfer target for the north London giants, but he is said to favour a transfer to their local rivals Chelsea, leading to Arsenal turning their focus towards White.
The report adds that Arsenal now are preparing an offer for the 23-year-old who made his debut for the England national team recently and has been included in the squad for the UEFA Euro 2020, following the injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold. White is contracted to Brighton till the summer but an offer in the region of £40-50 million could be enough to get them to part ways with the defender.
It now remains to be seen if Arsenal are willing to part ways with that sum in order to land the two-time capped England international or look at more cost-effective options such as Tosin Adarabioyo of Fulham, who could be available as little as £10 million.
