BRIGHTON have rejected a £40million bid from Arsenal for defender Ben White.
The Gunners launched their ambitious offer for Graham Potter’s England star, 23, on Wednesday.
But the Seagulls rejected the bid after slapping White with a £50m price-tag following his Euros call-up.
However, Arsenal remain undeterred and are expected to return with an improved offer.
Mikel Arteta is planning a huge squad overhaul this summer, with David Luiz already gone and more to follow.
White enjoyed a fine campaign with Brighton, making 36 appearances as the Seagulls comfortably beat the drop by 13 points.
And Arteta sees him as the ideal replacement for Luiz at the heart of the Gunners defence.
White first caught the eye while on loan at Leeds in the 2019-20 season, helping Marcelo Bielsa’s men cruise to the Championship crown.
Brighton fought fiercely to keep White at the Amex last summer after Leeds tried making his loan stay permanent.
But with Arsenal now launching an eye-watering initial offer, White’s days on the South Coast could be numbered.
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The Gunners are not the only interested party either.
Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are all known to be big fans of White, who made his England debut earlier this month in the 1-0 friendly win against Austria.
The centre-back failed to make Gareth Southgate’s initial 26-man Euros squad.
But an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold against Austria saw White handed a stunning reprieve ahead of numerous Three Lions regulars including James Ward-Prowse and Jesse Lingard.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have rejected a £25m bid from Aston Villa for Emile Smith Rowe.
Ambitious Dean Smith has already splashed out on Norwich star and Championship Player of the Year Emi Buendia.
And he wants Smith Rowe to line up next to the Argentine and Jack Grealish in a fearsome midfield triumvirate.
However, the Gunners have no intention of selling Smith Rowe and are confident the versatile playmaker will sign a new long-term contract.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
