Arsenal eye staggering £50m Ben White summer transfer

Arsenal Consider £10m Move for Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo

£10m! A significantly less eye-watering sum albeit for a significantly less glamourous central defender. On paper that is, anyway, as Tosin Adarabioyo was one of the few shining lights of a gloomy Fulham season (not Joachim Andersen this time).

Due to the Cottagers’ relegation last term, Adarabioyo will be available for purchase by any side that activates his £10m release clause. As per the Daily Mail, that clause will expire 30 days before the Championship begins season, which will begin on August 7.

Standing at over 6’4″, it’s little surprise that the 23-year-old excels in the air. Winning 71.9% of his aerial duels last season, the former Manchester City youth also led the entire Premier League for clearances on 193. He also showed excellent discipline throughout the campaign, committing as few as 0.58 fouls per 90 and picking up just the solitary yellow card in 33 outings.

It’s very hard to judge players who featured in such dire sides. What can be noted, however, is the very differing profiles of player Arteta is (supposedly) after.

White makes sense in that he adds a creativity and possession-based progression in phase one of the attack, the kind that Arsenal have lacked. Luiz added it with distribution whereas White – and Kounde – do so through their carries. They also allow Arsenal to adopt a higher line and try to squeeze the pitch, with their pace valuable in defending transitions. Funnily enough, despite his huge frame, Adarabioyo recorded the fastest sprint time of any defender in the Premier League last term.

The latter two links aiming for a homegrown option are intriguing, too. All rumours need consuming with healthy seasoning, but does going down that route suggest more homegrown departures and non-homegrown signings elsewhere across the team? Amid all the toxic sludge of speculation one might as well dabble themselves, eh?

As for Adarabioyo, he would be happily inexpensive. Does his potential arrival usurp Saliba from the side, though? He’s not the elite to do so.