Speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast, Duncan Castles has claimed that Manchester City have had preliminary conversations with Ben White about a summer transfer, amid reports Arsenal have made two bids to sign him.
The Gunners seemed to be front-runners for the centre-back’s signature, but it now seems as though they’re going to face some serious competition from the Premier League champions.
What’s been said?
Castles was speaking about some of the potential candidates for City to sign at centre-back this summer, and he says that they’ve already started talking with White.
“There are a number of potential candidates, and individuals available on the market. We talked last week about Jules Kounde, who Manchester United made an offer for, which was rejected by Sevilla. Kounde would be available if the money is right, although they’d have to go to a high fee to get him out of Sevilla,” Castles said.
“You have Pau Torres at Villarreal, a similar scenario, and left-footed – which is their preference.
“If you want a domestic candidate you have Ben White at Brighton and in the national team at present who has a lot of the characteristics you’d expect to see in a Guardiola centre-back.
“I understand that there have been preliminary conversations between City and Ben White, and you now have a scenario where Arsenal have made an offer that Brighton have rejected, so you now have that competition and the sense that White is likely to move this summer, so if he is the one they decide to go for, they’ll need to do it now.”
Bad news for Arsenal
As much as Arsenal fans will hate to hear it, this doesn’t bode well for their chances.
The reality is that City have more pull than Arsenal these days. They’re the reigning Premier League champions, European contenders and one of the richest clubs in the world.
There’s no doubting that Arsenal is an alluring destination, but when City come calling these days, it’s hard to turn them down.
The Gunners have to hope and pray that their deal isn’t hijacked here.
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