Arsenal make £54million bid to land Mikel Arteta's 'future captain' this summer

Mikel Arteta is reportedly a huge admirer of Brighton defender Ben White and is behind the Gunners making a third bid in the hope of signing the England international after Euro 2020

Posted Saturday, July 10, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Arsenal have reportedly submitted a third bid to sign defender Ben White from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Gunners have been edging closer to an agreement with Brighton in recent weeks having had their two previous offers for the 23-year-old rejected.

Now the North Londoners are offering £48million plus £6million worth of performance-related add-ons as an improvement to their rejected £42milllion plus £4million add-ons previously.

Reports suggest Brighton are demanding £50million for White and are yet to respond to Arsenal’s bid made earlier this week, with Everton looking to outbid the Gunners with their own offer of a guaranteed £50million.

Pick up the latest car results at european football tips

Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Ben White with Arteta viewing him as a 'future captain'

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claimed this week that the Gunners were confident of signing White despite the set-backs, with the player returning from Euro 2020 duty after Sunday’s final.

Meanwhile, other reports have said White has told England team-mates himself that the deal is near completion.

Manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly a huge fan of the centre-back and is driving the club’s pursuit of the England international with an eye on him as a future captain for the club.

Arteta is looking to fill the gaping hole in his defence with a calm and reliable right-footed centre-back.

The Gunners lost the experience of David Luiz at the start of this summer after his contract ran out and appear to be sending William Saliba on his third loan stint away from the club in as many seasons.

White has been hailed as an excellent ball-playing defender with enough potential to become a solid defender at the Emirates.

Predict the latest results in soccer tips group