Arsenal paid “way too much money” for Brighton defender Ben White in the summer, according to an unnamed agent.
Speaking anonymously to The Athletic reporter Stuart James, the agent said that the decision to pay £50m for the 23-year-old, when Manchester United paid significantly less for World Cup winner Raphael Varane, could be the biggest mistake made by technical director Edu:
“I know the English market is frightening, but that’s way too much money. The purchase of Ben White for £50 million. This was a one-horse race for a player with only one season in the Premier League under his belt. Yet still, Arsenal managed to pay over the odds.”
“The deal was made to look worse by Manchester United, who managed to secure serial Champions League winner Raphael Varane for considerably less. Madness at the Emirates and the sort of decision-making that will cost Edu his job.”
It must be pointed out that Varane had one year left on his contract before he arrived at United and White is five years younger than the Frenchman. On top of the premium you have to pay for an England international, it isn’t as crazy as the agent is trying to portray.
You also have to take into account that the Gunners don’t have European football, so enticing top-drawer players from abroad is even more difficult. Whether White turns out to be a good signing, though, only time will tell.