Arsenal have seen a former big-money signing linked with a summer exit.placeholder image
Arsenal have seen a former big-money signing linked with a summer exit. | Getty Images
Arsenal signed the star as an early marquee signing under Mikel Arteta back in 2021
Arsenal may have an important summer of transfer business ahead, as the Gunners look to take their squad to the next level under Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard has done a fine job building a squad capable of challenging across multiple competitions and if the north London outfit ultimately secure major trophy success in the Premier League or the Champions League come the end of the season, his goal will have been realised.
One of the goals next on the agenda is to make the club more financially efficient in terms of their transfer dealings. While Arsenal have signed well in recent seasons, they have been notoriously weak sellers under Arteta and have still never received more than £35million in a player sale. That could ultimately change this summer, with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, teenage starlet Myles Lewis-Skelly and even captain Martin Odegaard linked with surprise exits, while another first-team star could also depart for a Premier League rival.
Everton favourites to sign Ben White this summer - reports
According to Arsenal insider HandofArsenal on X, Everton are ‘leading the race’ to sign Arsenal full-back Ben White as speculation intensifies that the 28-year-old may move on this summer.
The Toffees were initially linked with the right-back in January and while the Gunners were not open to a sale then, the case might be different in the summer if Arsenal receive substantial bids for the out-of-favour star, who made a rare start in the Carabao Cup final in the absence of regular first-choice Jurrien Timber. White signed for Arsenal for £50m back in 2021 after an impressive first top-flight season with Brighton & Hove Albion and was a regular starter until seeing his minutes lessen across the past two seasons, amidst frequent injury issues and the emergence of Timber.
Reporting from the trusted account on X, which has over 250,000 followers and is followed by transfer experts such as Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein, read: “Everton are showing strong interest in Ben White. While other clubs have made enquiries, it is the Toffees who are leading the race as of today. The strategy is the same as last summer… Andrea [Berta] has been identifying multiple targets, their personal terms, price range and squad stylistic need before narrowing down the list.
“There is a strong emphasis on the mandate to sell well this upcoming transfer window. A criteria that Andrea will be judged on heavily this summer.”
Two Premier League stars touted as possible Arsenal replacements
Reporting continues that the Gunners have already begun to sound out potential replacements for White, in order to freshen things up at right-back and offer more competition to the impressive and versatile Timber. Newcastle United and England star Tino Livramento has been touted as an option, while Bournemouth’s Alex Jimenez is also on Arsenal’s list. The 20-year-old is currently on loan with the Cherries from AC Milan but will see his move become a permanent one for £16.9m this summer, after an obligation to buy clause was triggered by an appearance threshold last month.
HandofArsenal wrote: “More or less, most of the names you have seen have been enquired about. Livramento for example would jump at the chance to sign for Arsenal should we firm up our interest. The same can be said for Alex Jimenez at Bournemouth.”
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