Report: After Ben White, Arsenal have now agreed personal terms with £14.5m target

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Arsenal have stepped up their summer revamp by agreeing personal terms with Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, according to Nieuwsblad.

The Belgian’s heart is set on a move to England and his transfer is nearing completion with a breakthrough imminent. The Gunners have increased their offer after Paars-wit rejected a €14m (£12m) bid rising to €17m (£14.5m) with add-ons.

Anderlecht are already planning for a future without Lokonga as they seek replacements for the 21-year-old. But a deal will only be finalised if Arsenal agree to a solid sell-on clause.

The sell-on clause is the only hitch holding up Anderlecht selling Lokonga to Arsenal. Les Sports+ support Nieuwsblad’s claim of the midfielder agreeing personal terms with the Emirates Stadium side.

The Belgian publication adds that Arsenal have also upped their offer to €17m (£14.5m) with a further €4.5m (£4m) in bonuses. It was enough to convince Anderlecht to cash-in on their captain as he will become the club’s fourth-most expensive sale.

But Vincent Kompany’s side want a 15% sell-on clause to be added on top of the outright fee. Yet that is too much for Arsenal, as they look to revamp Mikel Arteta’s engine room with the Paars-wit product.

Arsenal near double deal with Lokonga and White

Arsenal agreeing personal terms with Lokonga could see the Gunners edge nearer to a double deal after the Anderlecht star’s arrival. As the north Londoners already have a contract in place for Brighton defender Ben White to sign, per The Guardian.

White is currently with the England squad progressing well at Euro 2020 after beating Germany in the Last 16. His presence in Gareth Southgate’s plans could hold the centre-half back from putting pen to paper for a while.

But Arsenal are clearly progressing well, themselves, in the transfer market with deals for Anderlecht’s Lokonga and Brighton’s White almost there. Arteta will hope the Belgian can now add some extra leadership to his midfield with Roma still working to sign Granit Xhaka.