Arsenal journalist Charles Watts has provided an update on the club’s pursuit of Brighton and Hove Albion defender Ben White.
Reports last month have heavily linked the England defender with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, with the Gunners reportedly making an opening offer of £40m for his services, an offer that was subsequently rejected by Graham Potter’s side.
And with Arsenal defender William Saliba on the verge of completing a move to French side Marseille, the need to bolster the ranks is going to get all the greater.
Speaking about the deal on his show, Watts seemed to claim that the deal looked like it will go ahead, and that it was really a matter of sorting out the finer details with the Seagulls before they could get to the next stage:
“They haven’t yet agreed a fee with Brighton, talks have been going on for a long, long time. They’ve been, from what I understand, very amicable, both clubs kind of in agreement that there needs to be a solution. Brighton are not unwilling to sell Ben White, but they want their money, they want their valuation met.
“Arsenal, kind of willing to meet their valuation, but it’s all at the moment in the stage of exactly what sort of clauses they’re going to pay, what the initial payment’s going to be, what the bonuses are going to take their overall payment towards. That is what hasn’t been agreed yet between the two clubs. From all understanding, Ben White is very keen on a move to Arsenal this summer.”
TIF Thoughts on Charles Watts’ comments about Arsenal and Ben White…
Do you think Arsenal should pay over £50m for Ben White this summer?
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Arsenal need to be very wary when it comes to how they approach the finances of this deal, because it could very well make or break their season. Having made a big loss last year, and having no European football to bring in money this campaign, this could very well be the one big transfer that they end up making.
So whilst White is a promising player that many clubs would be glad to have, they have to make sure that they don’t go overboard when trying to sign him.
Especially when you consider that they actually had the third-best defence in the division last season, only conceding 39, it’s not like it’s an area of major concern for the team, so to spend a large sum on him in the first place comes across as a rather bold move in itself.
In other news: Charles Watts claims Arsenal ace could now rock up at London Colney in unlikely development