Arsenal make improved £45m offer for Brighton defender Ben White with further £5m in add-ons as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his backline… but the Seagulls are holding out for £50m in guaranteed payments
- Arsenal are close to signing defender Ben White from Brighton and Hove Albion
- The Gunners have made an improved offer of £45million with £5m in add-ons
- The Seagulls have already rejected a £40m bid for the 23-year-old centre back
- Interest in the defender spiked after he was called-up to the England squad
- As reported by Sportsmail, Brighton want £50m for their prized asset in defence
Arsenal have made an improved £45million offer for Brighton defender Ben White with a further £5m in add-ons.
However, Brighton are maintaining their stance of wanting £50m in guaranteed payments.
Talks are continuing over the structure of the deal with England international White ready to make the move.
Arsenal have made an improved £45million offer for Brighton defender Ben White
The 23-year old is hopeful a deal will be concluded despite Brighton holding out for their valuation.
While discussions are still underway between the two clubs over what these add-ons are and how likely they can be reached, a deal is still expected to be agreed as a result.
With his new status as an England international following his elevation to Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad ahead of the Euros plus a year of Premier League football under his belt, White will also now command a significant wage increase.
He signed a new four-year Brighton deal worth around £35,000-per-week last summer and Arsenal are assessing whether they can make a deal for White fit in with their budget.
Brighton are still holding out for a guaranteed payment of £50million for the 23-year-old
Their finances will be hit after failing to qualify for Europe next season and they also have a number of positions they hope to strengthen this summer which they need to spread their money across.
Mikel Arteta is still eager to use their reduced budget to reinforce a number of positions this summer.
Finding a replacement for David Luiz is said to be a priority for the Gunner manager and it is believed he feels White would be the perfect solution.
Having made 36 appearances as the Seagulls stayed in the top flight by 13 points, Arteta has been impressed by White’s performances.
Mikel Arteta is still eager to use their reduced budget to reinforce a number of positions
Arsenal are looking to offset the outlay with a number of departures.
Defender Konstantinos Mavropanos has joined Stuttgart in an initial loan deal worth up to £5m.
The one year loan worth £500,000 will become a three year deal if made into a permanent transfer with the fee set at £3m and up to £1.5m in bonuses plus a sell-on clause.
Midfielder Lucas Torreira is wanted by Lazio, Roma are keen to take Granit Xhaka while Hector Bellerin is a target for Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid. Newcastle also want William Saliba on loan.
White (pictured centre in training on Thursday) is currently on England duty at Euro 2020
