Arsenal eye move for former Spurs star to provide competition for Ben White

Arsenal have been keeping tabs on Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters ahead of the summer transfer window.

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Despite the Saints’ dreadful campaign, which appears certain to end in relegation to The Championship, the England Under-21 international has enjoyed another reputation enchancing campaign.

Walker-Peters left Tottenham nearly three years ago in search of regular first team football and, according to The Athletic, came close to joining Everton but their lack of funds prevented a deal from being done.

The 26-year-old is also understood to have attracted interest from Manchester Untied, as well as Arsenal who are keen to sign a new right-back this summer.

Ben White has made that position his own this season having started the campaign as a makeshift solution to a problem position for Mikel Arteta.

Indeed, White was only shunted into that role as a consequence of William Saliba’s emergence and an injury to Takehiro Tomiyasu.

The Japan international is likely to return in time for pre-season training following another injury he suffered against Sporting Lisbon in March.

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Tomiyasu’s long-term future, however, remains in doubt given his questionable fitness record over the course of his Arsenal career.

The Gunners made a move to sign Ivan Fresneda in January and the Real Valladolid defender is likely to be targeted again in the close season.

Speaking about his future recently, he said: ‘I like Arteta a lot because I think he’s a great coach; I follow the European leagues and I think the work he’s doing with his club is fantastic,’ Fresneda told The Athletic.

‘But now with [Real Valladolid manager] Pezzolano and before with [previous manager] Pacheta we do that style of play, and that style is the one I like the most.’

Arsenal are also understood to be very interested in RB Leipzig defender Mohamed Simakan who can play at both centre-half and right-back.

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