According to David Ornstein, Arsenal are expected to make a move for Brighton defender Ben White.
What’s the story?
Well, according to Ornstein’s story in The Athletic, Arsenal are preparing a move for the 23-year-old, who has emerged as a concrete target.
Ornstein claims that a deal could cost as much as £50 million for the Gunners, but that isn’t expected to be an obstacle Arsenal can’t overcome.
There is yet to be any contact between Arsenal and Brighton, although The Athletic believe that an approach should soon arrive.
White is under contract until 2024, but the Seagulls will not stand in his way if a good offer arrives.
Ornstein claims Arsenal won’t be White’s only admirers, but the speed of their pursuit has given the north Londoners a strong chance of finalising a deal.
What would this mean for William Saliba?
Ornstein explains that it’s unclear what White’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium would mean for William Saliba.
The Frenchman has spent the last two seasons out on loan at AS Saint-Etienne and OGC Nice.
Saliba is yet to make his competitive debut for Arsenal, despite joining the club in 2019 for a significant fee of £27 million.
If he’s already struggling to break into Arteta’s first-team, then how will his situation look if White arrives for £50 million?
Bleak is the word we would use.
Of course, White needs a partner.
However, Arsenal already have Gabriel Magalhães, Pablo Mari, Rob Holding and Calum Chambers, so it is unclear whether Saliba will return to London and jump above all of these names in the pecking order.
Hopefully, a move for White won’t stunt Saliba’s development.
Arsenal simply have to start using the 20-year-old soon – he cost far too much to be wasted like this.
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