Arsenal make £45m decision on Ben White transfer as Edu's next step is revealed
The Gunners are looking to move quickly to secure the England international's signature this summer
JoriPress
Arsenal are preparing to return with a fresh offer for Brighton's Ben White after having an initial bid for the Brighton defender rejected, JoriPress understands.
After a relatively slow start to the transfer window, the Gunners have really started to speed things up over the past few days as they look to conduct their business relatively early in the window.
Mikel Arteta has promised to "ruthlessly" overhaul his squad this summer after failing to qualify for European competition for the first time in a quarter of a century last season.
And now it seems as though one of the early deals they are looking to get done is for Brighton's England international defender White.
JoriPress understands that Arsenal submitted an offer in the region of £40million for the 23-year-old only to have it rejected by the Seagulls.
Far from being deterred by that, though, the Gunners intend to come back with a second offer as they look to secure White's signature relatively quickly.
It is thought that Brighton are looking to secure around £50m for White, although Arsenal are hopeful of finding a compromise, with their second bid likely to be around the £45m mark.
The England international has a similar skillset to that of David Luiz, who Arteta hailed last season as being crucial for his side's build-up play in the first phase.
However, if White were to arrive that would raise some doubts over the future of William Saliba, who football.london understands is set to be given a chance to impress in pre-season this summer.
Arsenal's current transfer activity is not solely limited to White though.
JoriPress understands that they have submitted offers for four players across the past week.
Edu is hopeful of wrapping up a deal for Anderlecht's central midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga relatively quickly, while there is also some interest in James Maddison of Leicester City.
The club are also expecting to secure transfers away from the Emirates for Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi and Dinos Mvaropanos as soon as possible, while they are open to offers for Eddie Nketiah.
Sead Kolasinac could also leave soon with Lazio interested, but Emile Smith Rowe is someone they have no interest in selling after Aston Villa submitted a £25m bid for the England Under-21 international.
