Arsenal are serious about making a move for Brighton’s Ben White and the defender’s £50m asking price is not insurmountable, according to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein.
The former BBC reporter, who is generally pretty reliable when it comes to the Gunners, has confirmed reports from earlier this week that the London club have joined the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham in pursing the England international.
Considering Arsenal’s limited transfer budget, fans on Twitter can’t understand why manager Mikel Arteta would invest so much in a centre-back:
This feels like such a bizarre move
— Dazza (@RazzaDazza) June 11, 2021
So this is actually real then?
— NordicGooner (@GoonerNordic) June 11, 2021
WHAT
— Dan (@AFCDannn) June 11, 2021
Very surprising move
— Arsenal Centro (@ArsenalCentro) June 11, 2021
Signing more defenders to compensate for not signing a number 10. Maybe defense wins you titles????
— Give Me My Club Back (@fightforArsenal) June 11, 2021
Why though, that seems like a bad deal when there are better options available for a similar or slightly higher price. Also why are we focusing on a RCB when midfield needs the most work?
— Willam Kelly (@kelly_willam) June 11, 2021
WTF is wrong with this club
— Mohammed (@AFC_ML) June 11, 2021
Where are our priorities ffs
— alfieeee (@eeeeifla) June 11, 2021
More defenders when we need midfielders
— Azzo (@AFCAzzo) June 11, 2021
Great talent but do we need a central defender like that? We have Gabriel and Saliba, I’d rather us sign an experienced centre half to rotate with the two youngsters but that’s just me
— Witt (@ManLikeKTierney) June 11, 2021
With the likes of William Saliba, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, Gabriel and Pablo Mari all in the squad, it does seem strange that Arteta is so intent in bringing on another centre-half.
It must simply be the case that the Gunners boss doesn’t rate the players he currently has at this disposal. What that means for the future of players like Saliba, we shall have to wait and see.