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Achraf Hakimi: Chelsea making progress in pursuit of Inter Milan defender
Both Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have made £51.6m (€60m) offers but Inter Milan want at least £68m (€80m); Inter are warming to the idea of Marcos Alonso and Davide Zappacosta being included as part of any deal
Chelsea are making progress in their attempt to sign Inter Milan right-back Achraf Hakimi.
Both the Blues and Paris Saint-Germain have made £51.6m (€60m) offers but Inter want at least £68m (€80m), which News revealed earlier this month.
However, Inter are willing to take players as part of any deal and Marcos Alonso and David Zappacosta are being discussed during negotiations.
They have joined Emerson Palmeiri and Andreas Christiansen as options - and Sky in Italy are reporting that Alonso in particular is a name Inter are warming to, along with Zappacosta.
Alonso, who has also been of interest to Atletico Madrid, has fallen behind Ben Chilwell for a place at left-back, while Zappacosta has spent the past few seasons out on loan, most recently with Genoa.
Inter signed Hakimi from Real Madrid for around £34m (€40m) last summer, after he spent two successful seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund between 2018 and 2020, and he was part of Antonio Conte's team that won Serie A.
But Inter have to make significant financial cuts following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which led to Conte leaving his job just last month.
Chelsea also want to sign a striker this summer and Dortmund's Erling Haaland remains their top target.
Ben White: Brighton reject £40m transfer bid from Arsenal for England international defender
Arsenal are expected to make another offer for Brighton defender White as talks between two clubs are ongoing; 23-year-old centre-back made 36 Premier League appearances for Brighton last season and earned England call-up in May
Brighton have rejected a £40m bid from Arsenal for defender Ben White.
Talks are ongoing between the two clubs.
Arsenal are expected to go back with an improved offer for the 23-year-old centre-back, who made 36 Premier League appearances for Brighton this season after spending the 2019-20 season on loan at Leeds.
White impressed as Brighton survived relegation and finished 16th in the Premier League with the joint-best defence in the bottom half of the league (46 goals conceded).
White earned his first England call-up in May when he was named in Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2020.
He was one of seven players cut from the squad on June 1, but later replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Arsenal are looking to bolster their defence after finishing eighth in the Premier League and missing out on European football for the first time since the 1994-95 season.
Last season, Gabriel, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari, and Rob Holding were the most-used players in the middle as Arsenal conceded the third-fewest league goals behind only Manchester City and Chelsea.
White, Ramsdale interest suggests defensive priority for Arsenal
Sky Sports' Nick Wright:
"Arsenal had the third-best defensive record in the Premier League last season, conceding just 39 goals across their 38 fixtures, but their interest in White and Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale suggests Mikel Arteta regards defensive improvement as a priority this summer.
"The Gunners do look light at centre-back following David Luiz's departure. William Saliba is due to return from his loan spell with Nice ahead of the new campaign and will hope to compete for a place in the side but Arteta evidently feels an external solution is required.
"White impressed for Brighton during his first season in the top flight, starting all but two of their Premier League fixtures and at times featuring in central midfield. The 23-year-old's performances earned him a place in England's Euro 2020 squad.
"White's ball-playing ability and age make him an enticing proposition for Arsenal and they doubtless see similar qualities in Ramsdale.
"The goalkeeper, also 23 and also called up to the England squad this week, showed his potential during a difficult season with Sheffield United and is comfortable playing out from the back.
"Arsenal's interest in Ramsdale may cast doubt on Bernd Leno's future. Together with the club's pursuit of White, it also shows Arteta wants a defensive refresh as a priority."
Arsenal fixtures 2021/22: Gunners start with Bees & Chelsea
Arsenal will start their 2021/22 Premier League campaign away at newcomers Brentford on Saturday August 14.
Mikel Arteta's side, who finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League table, then have a London derby at the Emirates against European champions Chelsea on August 21, before going to current champions Manchester City on August 28.
Arsenal's first north London derby comes on the weekend of September 25 at home to Tottenham, while the return fixture will be on the weekend of January 15 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Emile Smith Rowe: Arsenal reject bid from Aston Villa for forward
Emile Smith Rowe made 37 appearances under Mikel Arteta during the 2020/21 season and has become a key player for his boyhood club since breaking into the first team; the Gunners will not be entertaining bids for the 20-year-old attacker this summer
Arsenal have rejected a bid from Aston Villa for forward Emile Smith Rowe.
The Gunners are not entertaining offers for the player and remain hopeful he will sign a new contract. Smith Rowe's current deal runs until the summer of 2023.
The academy product impressed during the 2020/21 campaign, scoring seven times and making seven assists in 37 appearances in all competitions.
Smith Rowe has enjoyed loan spells at Huddersfield and RB Leipzig but has shone since breaking through into the Arsenal first team under Mikel Arteta last year.
The 20-year-old helped the Gunners to an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League this season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are keen on signing Mat Ryan on a permanent deal after he spent the second half of this season on loan at the Emirates Stadium.
The goalkeeper's contract at Brighton expires next summer and he is expected to leave the Seagulls during the current transfer window.
Brighton have rejected a £40m bid from Arsenal for defender Ben White but negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs and the Gunners are expected to come back in with an improved offer for the 23-year-old.
Arsenal are also interested in signing Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, while Roma are in advanced talks with the Gunners over a deal to bring Granit Xhaka to the Stadio Olimpico.
