Arsenal remain adamant that Ben White will not leave the club this month, despite interest from several teams including Manchester City and Everton. Sources close to the club have confirmed that the Gunners see the defender as an important part of Mikel Arteta's squad at this stage of the season.
Ben White joined Arsenal in July 2021 from Brighton for a fee of £50 million and is currently in his fifth season at the Emirates. Originally signed as a centre-back, the 28-year-old has been deployed primarily as a right-back in recent years, becoming a reliable fixture in the London side.
However, White has struggled to find regular first-team football this season, making just nine starts in all competitions. Jurrien Timber's form has directly affected his minutes, which has caused some frustration for the player, although he is not pushing for a move away from the club.
The interest in White is not new. Manchester City had been scouting his services since last year, seeing him as an ideal option at right-back. Talks have also been held through intermediaries with other clubs such as Everton, Juventus and Monaco. Despite this, Arsenal do not intend to consider offers in the current transfer window.
However, the situation is expected to be reassessed in the summer. White is not willing to accept a secondary role at this stage of his career and a departure at the end of the season is not ruled out. All parties are expected to make a decision on his future after the end of the current season.
