White has ‘heart set’ on Arsenal amid Everton, PSG interest
Brighton defender Ben White has decided his preference is to move to Arsenal this summer, according to reports.
White, 23, enjoyed a stellar campaign last season, starting 36 Premier League matches as Brighton conceded the joint-fewest goals of any bottom-half side (46).
His composed performances at the heart of the defence have drawn admiring glances from a number of big clubs, with Arsenal having made him a top priority for this transfer window.
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The Gunners have already had two bids rejected but are said to be confident that their latest offer of £45milllion plus £5million in add-ons will force Brighton’s hand.
Everton had looked set to hijack the deal after launching a superior bid worth a guaranteed £50million, with a further £5million offered in add-ons, and although White was initially tempted, the Daily Express claim he now has his ‘heart set’ on a move to the capital.
White has also been the subject of interest from Paris Saint-Germain, with manager Mauricio Pochettino having received glowing references from Marcelo Bielsa during White’s spell with Leeds United in the Championship.
Since promotion that season, the defender has gone from strength to strength, establishing himself in the top flight before earning a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad. An injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold saw White drafted into the Euros set-up, though he is yet to make an appearance.
Simon Jordan, the talkSPORT host, said of Arsenal’s approach: “Why would he want to go there?
“With respect to Brighton it’s a step up but there may be other steps available to him that are far more compelling than Arsenal.
“If Ben White is now in the international squad and revered the way he is, because he’s a top quality player, why are Arsenal in the mix? Arsenal are all over the place.
“If you’re comparing and contrasting Brighton to Arsenal then yes it is a step up but if you’re comparing somebody who’s in the England squad that people in the game think is a Rolls Royce then what is the move he’s making to Arsenal for?”
