Ben White ‘expected’ to join Arsenal with personal terms agreed for £50m transfer
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Ben White’s proposed move to Arsenal seems to have caught fire once again with personal terms reportedly agreed with the Gunners. Links had heated up earlier in the summer, although England’s deep run at Euro 2020 essentially put a hold on proceedings until the tournament’s conclusion on Sunday.
If the Brighton defender completes his move as expected, he would be the latest in a long line of arrivals expected at the Emirates.
Nuno Tavares has already signed from Benfica, while midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga also looks poised to complete an £18million move from Anderlecht.
After a number of high-profile departures from the club, and several more predicted, Mikel Arteta expects the next few weeks to be packed with business.
According to Football London, White is expected to join Arsenal and has already agreed the terms of any contract he would sign if the north Londoners can reach an agreement with his club Brighton.
White’s proposed £50million move went quiet for a number of weeks after appearing to be on the verge of completion in June.
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The centre-back was occupied by England’s deep run into Euro 2020, the Three Lions eventually falling short via an agonising penalty shootout loss to Italy in the final.
The 23-year-old was left out of the tournament squad to begin with, before his assured performances in England’s warm-up games prompted him to be called up to replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Although White was never thrown into the action for his country, the experience of reaching the nation’s first major tournament final in 55 years would have been invaluable.
As with plenty of international stars, transfer dealings are expected to get back up to speed now that the tournament is over.
It has been a rapid rise for the Brighton defender who only made his Premier League debut at the start of last season.
He instantly looked right at home, demonstrating his versatility as he turned out both at centre-back and holding midfield.
With the Gunners looking light on numbers in defence after David Luiz’s exit, White would surely be thrown straight into the fray come next season.
As well as tempting in new faces, Arteta and co. have made big decisions surrounding players within their ranks who were flirting with the idea of moves away.
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Both Joe Willock and Emile Smith-Rowe appear to be in the first-team picture next season, despite interest from Newcastle and Aston Villa respectively.
With midfielders looking particularly scarce at the Emirates, White could also deputise in a holding role which undoubtedly makes up part of his appeal for the Gunners’ hierarchy.
At £50m, White would become the third most expensive signing in the club’s history – quite the feat for someone with one topflight season under his belt, although many have been impressed with what he has shown so far.
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