Everton are leading the race to sign Arsenal star Ben White this summer with talks having taken place, according to Gunners insider Hand of Arsenal.
The Toffees are likely to be in the market to bolster their defence this summer, with James Tarkowski the wrong side of 30, Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman out of contract, and interest in Jarrad Branthwaite, while Nathan Patterson looks sure to be on the move after struggling to make an impact since joining from Rangers.
Full-back is understood to be a position they are increasingly pushing to strengthen as a result, and a move for the England international is now believed to be a top target for David Moyes.
Everton Pushing to Sign Ben White
ben white
White, who earns around £150,000-a-week at the Emirates Stadium, has found himself behind Jurrien Timber in the pecking order under Mikel Arteta this season, being relegated to second-choice right-back and not even considered in central defence, behind William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, and Piero Hincapie.
The defender will enter the final two years of his deal this summer, and his lack of regular game time has led to speculation that he could depart north London, five years after joining in a £50m deal from Brighton.
According to a club insider, it's Everton who are leading the race for his signature currently, as they are showing the strongest interest in the 28-year-old.
Talks have already been held about a move, and while there is interest from other Premier League clubs too, it's the Blues who currently have an advantage as they can offer him the best route to regular first-team football.
Everton Also Eyeing Lewis-Skelly
myles lewis-skelly arsenal
While right-back is expected to be the main priority of the bolstering of the defence this summer, they are also keen on strengthening at left-back to provide competition to Vitalii Mykolenko, and that has seen them hold talks about a move for Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The Ukrainian has been first-choice since arriving under Rafael Benitez, but a lack of options has seen Moyes be forced to use Branthwaite at left-back on several occasions this season, while summer signing Adam Aznou has failed to make an impact.
Bringing both White and Lewis-Skelly to the Hill Dickinson Stadium would undoubtedly be shrewd business for the Merseysiders, with both having experience at the highest level and knowing how to defend as part of a unit. Moyes will love them, and both deals look very possible.
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