Arsenal look set to make some serious moves in the transfer market this summer and this week, things have really accelerated.
The Gunners are looking to make several additions to their midfield and defence. It seems the club are now pressing ahead to seal deals for their primary targets.
On Tuesday we wrote about how James Maddison would be a good fit for Arsenal and since then, news has been circulating in the press that Arsenal want to sign the English midfielder.
Most recently, football.london say that they have spoken to a source close to the club who say Maddison is at the top of the list of targets for Arsenal as they look to bring in a new attacking midfielder. Maddison will likely cost in excess of £50million, with the Daily Mail reporting that Leicester rejected a £70million bid for the player last summer.
In the Premier League last season, Maddison notched up 8 goals and a further 5 assists, and the 24-year-old has proven consistently since his move from Norwich that he is a top quality Premier League player.
Proven Premier League quality appears to be what Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are searching for in this window, with the club hopeful of concluding a deal to sign Ben White in the coming days.
According to Sky Sports, Arsenal saw a £40million bid for White rejected on Wednesday. They say that the Gunners are likely to go back with an improved bid.
Last week David Ornstein of The Athletic said that Arsenal had a ‘strong chance’ of winning the race to sign White, with several other Premier League clubs interested.
Brighton could ask for up to £50million for White in order to accept a deal, but there is a feeling that the two clubs will likely come to an agreement on this one.
23-year-old White is clearly talented and very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Arsenal have of course lost David Luiz this summer and despite William Saliba set to come back to the club, it seems Arteta and Arsenal are keen to sign a top-quality right-sided defender. Where that leaves Rob Holding and Saliba himself remains to be seen.
White has impressed heavily for Leeds in the Championship and for Brighton in the Premier League. At both clubs he showed his consistency and quality that saw him become a mainstay in both sides. He has also showcased ability to play both in defence and in central midfield.
White was also the man selected to replace injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in the England squad this summer, after impressing boss Gareth Southgate in training.
Deals for White and Maddison would likely cost in excess of £100million for Arsenal, but it would show that the club mean business. Adding two Premier League proven, English players aged 23 and 24 will never come cheap, but even at that price, they do appear more wise investments than what we have seen from the club previously.