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Reports: Arsenal in talks to sign £85m duo as Arteta looks to pull-off double swoop

By on July 13, 2021

ben white

Arsenal are stepping-up their attempts to sign Ben White from Brighton and are also in talks with Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves about a potential move to the Emirates, according to reports.

Mikel Arteta is trying to rebuild his squad this summer after a disastrous 2020/21 campaign that saw us finish eighth and we’ve already snapped-up highly-rated left-back Nuno Tavares from Benfica.

However, the boss is expected to bring in a number of further new additions over the coming weeks and a right-sided central defender is on the agenda as David Luiz has left the club while William Saliba is off on loan to Marseille.

White has been widely touted as Arsenal’s first choice target and the Evening Standard says we’re now pushing ahead with our move for the Brighton star now that Euro 2020 has come to an end.

The newspaper claims the England players agreed to put their futures to one side while the tournament was on but now that the Euro’s is over, Arsenal are pressing to get a deal agreed to sign White.

As per the Evening Standard, Arsenal are locked in negotiations with Brighton and are hoping to finally agree terms over a potential £50m deal after seeing two previous offers rejected.

The report says the 23-year-old is keen to join Arsenal and personal terms aren’t expected to be an issue so all that remains is for a fee to be agreed between the two clubs and this proposed transfer should move quickly.

White has developed into an excellent ball-playing centre-back at Brighton and he should be a terrific addition to the squad if we can get this wrapped-up. I still have my reservations about spending £50m on a centre-back when we have Saliba on the books and several other positions that need strengthened. However, we have to trust Arsenal’s judgement on this.

Arteta is also in the market for midfield reinforcements as Granit Xhaka is expected to leave this summer along with Lucas Torreira. Dani Ceballos, Martin Odegaard and Matteo Guendouzi have already gone so Arsenal need more bodies in the middle of the park.

Neves has emerged as a serious target and The Sun claims that Arsenal are in talks with the players agent, Jorge Mendes, discussing a possible move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

The newspaper says Edu is in ‘constant contact’ with Mendes trying to get a deal agreed but Wolves are demanding £35m for the midfielder – which could prove to be a stumbling block.

The good news is Neves has just two years left on his contract so Wolves may be prepared to lower that asking price as the 24-year-old’s valuation would drop considerably next summer when he’ll enter the last year of his deal.

The Sun suggests that Wolves need to sell in order to raise transfer funds and they’re willing to cash-in on Neves, so Arsenal are well placed to get a deal done if a fee can be agreed between the two clubs.

So it appears we’re in talks to secure two more players that could cost around £85m. And with Albert Lokonga set to join from Anderlecht in a £15m deal, that’s £100m worth of talent so Arsenal aren’t messing around this summer.