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Arsenal are reportedly poised to make an improved bid for Ben White after Brighton turned down a £40million offer for the defender. White is one of four players who the Gunners have submitted bids for over the past week as boss Mikel Arteta plans a huge summer revamp of his squad, according to reports.
The north Londoners are expected to make a fresh £45m for the England star after having their previous attempts to sign him knocked back on Wednesday.
Brighton turned down the £40m offer for White, who had an excellent first season at Premier League level with the Seagulls.
The 23-year-old was part of a defence which conceded the joint-fewest goals in the bottom half of the top-flight with 46.
Only Aston Villa, who finished 11th, let in as many.
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The Spaniard has been trusted to lead Arsenal’s transfer plans despite overseeing one of the most disappointing campaigns in the club’s recent history.
They finished eighth in the Premier League and their defence of the previous season’s FA Cup success ended in a fourth-round defeat by Southampton.
Arsenal have responded by marking the opening week of the transfer window with offers for four different targets, according to Football.London.
Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sami Lokonga and Leicester City’s James Maddison are believed to be the subject of two of those bids, alongside the one for White.
It is not yet understood how Brighton will react to the bid being increased by £5m.
Meanwhile, Arteta has called for huge changes at Arsenal to prevent them from falling behind their Premier League rivals after a poor campaign.
They will not play in European competition next term for the first time since 1996.
“The squad needs changing,” the 39-year-old said last month.
“There were already a lot of changes in December, something that has not been done in years, but it tells us where we were.
“Things are going to have to change and the owners are going to back it up. Time is catching up right now.
“It’s a trend, it’s years now that this has been happening. If the distance and the margins with the rest become too big, then it’s almost impossible to do it.
“We are still on time, and we have put some very strong pillars and foundations in the last few months to do what we have to do.
“We know what has been going on inside here for the last 18 months.
“We know. We only know – the ones that are here. How we have built that is incredible.”
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