Arsenal have reportedly signed initial paperwork on their transfer deal for Ben White after reaching an agreement with Brighton for the defender.
After enjoying a wonderful debut season in the Premier League, the former Southampton man has caught the attention of big English clubs. Chelsea and Everton have also shown interest in the England International, but the young man only wants to join the Emirates club.
According to the report in The Times, the north London club have agreed on a deal in principle with Brighton for the highly-rated defender for around £50 million. The 23-year-old will sign a five-year contract with the Emirates club and will earn around £120,000 per week in salary.
The deal will be finalized after the Englishman returns from holiday, after being involved with the national team in Euro 2020. Journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Gunners have signed initial paperwork to get the deal done.
Sky Sports stated yesterday that the defender is expected to undergo medical on 26th July and the report further claims that Brighton have included a future sell-on clause for Ben White.
Arsenal Fever View:
After finishing with the third-best defensive record in the Premier League last season, this deal might look like unnecessary spending. However, following the departure of David Luiz, the north London club are short at centre-back and the Brighton man will be the perfect addition to fill that void.
The 23-years-old’s calmness on the ball and his ability to play through the lines will help Mikel Arteta to play out from the back. The defender has excellent efficiency to read the game and also can occupy the perfect position while defending.
However, the mentioned fee is way too high, given the player has only one year of experience in the top-flight. The defender has not even made his debut for the national squad in big tournaments. This price tag will impose unnecessary pressure on the young man’s shoulders.
Nevertheless, Arsenal needed a new centre-back this summer and Ben White will be a very good addition. His versatility will help Arteta to implement different systems and also deploy him in midfield if required.
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