Arsenal are close to reaching an agreement with Brighton, which is said to be worth around £ 50 million for the English defender Ben White.
The latest update on the Gunners ‘quest for midfielder was provided on Thursday afternoon by The Athletics’ David Ornstein, who reported meetings between representatives have been held face to face.
The club’s interest in the 23-year-old has been well publicized in recent weeks and while supporters will be happy to see Arsenal willing to act this summer in an effort to close the gap in the top four – the question is, are they going to pay too much for White ?
? Arsenal are approaching the agreement with Brighton on Ben White. #BHAFC wants to guarantee ~ £ 50 million, #AFC offers ~ £ 45 million + £ 5 million. Personal conversations have taken place and negotiations continue on supplements, payment structure, etc. No other bidders yet @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/x9fJEUSMZ3
– David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 24, 2021
Contrary to many people’s beliefs, Arsenal have spent a lot of time in recent seasons – the problem has been that they have spent poorly. This is just one of the consequences of poor management at Emirates and the lack of a well-thought-out strategy has been the biggest problem rather than the owner’s perceived tightness.
With all due respect to Brighton, White has shown signs of a player who is meant for bigger and better things. He is a ball-playing midfielder who can step into the midfield, which makes him the perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s side, who seem to be playing from behind. The former Leeds United borrower is what you would describe as press-resistant, he is grown at home and given his potential you can understand the appeal.
But if Arsenal are able to spend around £ 50m on a defender, you could argue that they would be better served by someone you would describe as the finished item, rather than another option. After all, their goal will be to qualify for the Champions League next season, not three or four years later.
What we see here is a change in the club’s transfer strategy and one that is frankly delayed. On the whole, it seems like the Gunners are paying too much for a player that some will have their reservations about, but they would spend big bucks on a player with the potential to be sold on for a similar figure if not further along. line, and that’s the key.
By putting a player’s natural depreciation aside, Arsenal have usually spent large sums on players who, as their original contracts approach their final years, have hardly any sales value at all. Granite Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi are prime examples of this, but an investment of this kind is more likely to provide the opportunity to recoup your initial investment further down the line if you wish or need to do so.
Arsenal have been accused of no longer acting as a big club in recent years, and signing players with a view to the future as opposed to the here and now does not help change that perception. But the change in strategy that this transfer (if it were to take place) would represent is necessary if the Gunners are to close the gap in the top four again.
