Arsenal are growing increasingly confident of securing the signing of Ben White this summer amid claims he’s told friends he expects the move to go through this summer.
The Gunners have made overhauling their backline a mission in what is expected to be a critical transfer window. David Luiz is due to depart as a free agent, while William Saliba has been inked with Newcastle on loan. Full-back Hector Bellerin is another who could go, with a Liverpool man recently naming who he will likely be joining.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side are looking at strengthening the heart of their defence and have identified impressive Three Lions centre-back White as their No 1 option.
A Tuesday report detailed ‘positive talks’ as Arsenal sought to jump ahead of Man Utd and Liverpool in the queue for the defender.
The 23-year-old Brighton defender’s stock has risen dramatically over the last two years, culminating in an England call-up after just one season of top-flight football.
And reports on Wednesday claimed the Gunners had seen an initial £40m approach rejected by the Seagulls.
However, the Gunners are not being deterred and a second, improved offer is planned.
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As such, Football Insider claim the Gunners are ‘expected to return to the negotiating table with an improved offer for White as talks continue’.
Furthermore, it seems like the signing is edging closer with White keen to make the move.
Indeed, it’s reported White ‘has told his Leeds United friends he expects to quit Brighton for Arsenal this summer’. To that end, Brighton are likely to hold out for a £50m fee.
That is a claim verified by Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, who claims the Gunners will stiffen their resolve with an “improved offer”.
“I’m told that talks are continuing and Arsenal are expected to go back in with an improved offer,” said Sheth.