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Transfer update: Terms agreed, bids worth £55m gone in as Arsenal target double swoop

By on June 21, 2021

According to reports via the Metro, Arsenal are looking to pull off a double swoop for Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga and Brighton centre-back Ben White this summer.

Mikel Arteta is desperately trying to overhaul his squad after Arsenal missed out on European football with an eighth-place finish last season and at least two new midfielders are expected to arrive over the coming weeks.

Granit Xhaka is set to leave while Dani Ceballos has returned to Spain following his loan spell and Arteta is also hoping to raise extra funds by cashing-in on the likes of Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi and Joe Willock.

Lokonga has emerged as a serious target and after seeing an opening offer rejected, the Metro are citing a report from Nieuwsblad that claims Arsenal have now offered to pay £12m [€14m] up front plus another £2.5m [€3m] in add-ons.

That means the proposed deal would be worth around £14.5m but the Metro claims that Anderlecht are hoping to sell Lokonga for closer to £20m due to the amount of interest being shown in him.

The good news for Arsenal is that the 21-year-old is keen to join Arsenal and the report says that we’ve already agreed personal terms with the Belgian youngster over a long-term contract, so we’re well placed to win the race for his signature.

White move

ben white

In addition to a central midfielder, Arsenal are also in the market for another centre-back after David Luiz left the club following the expiration of his contract and White has been touted as Arteta’s prime target.

The Metro says Arsenal have already seen an opening £40m rejected by Brighton but we’re expected to return with an improved offer which will be closer to their reported £50m valuation.

White’s stock has risen considerably since he was named in the England squad for Euro 2020 and several top European clubs are being linked so Arsenal should act fast if we want to win the race.

White is predominantly a centre-back but can play at right-back or even as a defensive midfielder so he’d be an excellent addition to Arteta’s squad.

So based on these reports, Arsenal have tabled offers worth around £55m for Lokonga and White recently but we’ll have to dig a little deeper if we want to get deals agreed for the duo.

It’s going to be a busy few weeks at the Emirates, so it’s going to be interesting to see what business we manage to get done…

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