Arsenal increase Ben White offer for the third time

Arsenal have upped their transfer bid to sign Brighton and Hove Albion defender Ben White for a third time; with a bid of £45 million plus £3 million in add-ons. The Gunners are confident a deal can be reached for the starlet.

Brighton are desperately trying to cling on to the England international, but this 3rd transfer offer is likely to test the South Coast side's resolve. Talks are believed to be at an advanced stage with player representatives already, but talk on completion of a transfer is unlikely to emerge until well after the end of the Euro 2020 tournament. White, is of course, a member of Gareth Southgate's England squad.

The departures of Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz leaves the Gunners lacking strength in depth, and with the 23-year-old currently one of England's most in demand young players, Arsenal are keen to wrap up a deal as soon as possible.

It is understood that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hopes to link Rob Holding as part of a new look defence alongside White, with Brazilian defender Gabriel as a back up.