Arsenal have their first offer for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Ben White rejected, according to Sky Sports.

David Ornstein earlier reported that Arsenal were expected to make a “concrete offer” for the England international imminently. The first offer has now finally been made and Brighton have reacted to it already.

After the Seagulls rejected the Gunners offer straightway, Arsenal are believed to be ready to come back with an improved offer for the 23-year-old.

The Brighton man has had admiring glances from several top clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United and even France’s Paris Saint-Germain after an impressive Premier League season under his belt.

But Arsenal look like the most interested party, with talks having accelerated in the past few days. The former Leeds man made 39 appearances for Graham Potter’s team last season.

Busy few days at Arsenal. They're going for Ben White, have rejected Smith Rowe bid from Villa (as reported by @David_Ornstein) and are hopeful of getting Lokonga deal done.

I understand that, as per @CharlieWyett, they are also keen on Aaron Ramsdale. #AFC

— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) June 16, 2021

At the start of the last campaign, Leeds United launched three bids for White, all of them were rejected by Brighton. It is a testament to the quality of the young English centre-back, who is versatile and can play as a right-back and a central defensive midfielder too.

Arsenal are expected to be extremely busy in the current transfer window

Given that he’s homegrown, his market value was always expected to be high.

Arsenal’s interest in a right-sided centre-back has been well documented in the past few months.

If the highly regarded French defender William Saliba is unaffected by the signing of Ben White, this deal will make even more sense.

With Gabriel set to miss the start of the new campaign due to his involvement in the upcoming Olympics, Mikel Arteta clearly wants another body at the heart of the defence.

In the end, having at least three solid options at centre back is what every sensible Premier League manager will do.

Personally, I would like to see Ben White at the Emirates Stadium in Arsenal colours next season. People have been criticising Arsenal from left, right and centre since the news broke down that Arsenal were preparing an offer for him.

But I have an opinion different from them. Although we conceded the third-fewest goals in the league last campaign, our defence has been decent to say the most.

Also Read :

• It’s Going to be All White as a Deal Looks Highly Likely For 23 Year-old England International
• Is Albert Sambi Lokonga The Potential Star of Arteta’s New look Arsenal
• Arsenal Eyeing Sheffield United Star And It’s Not Sander Berge

There is not a single standout player at the heart of our defence.

With the acquisition of White, we will get a player who is capable of splitting the opposition’s defence from his own half by his pinpoint passing and Arsenal could definitely use some of that.

We will also get a player who is good at tackling and carrying the ball up the field.

Thus, the deal makes a lot of sense and I for one am looking forward to seeing it get done at the earliest.

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