Everton target Arsenal star for a big January move

A recent report from Football Insider says Everton are seriously chasing Arsenal defender Ben White. They see him as the perfect man to fix their thin backline during the winter transfer window. The Toffees are desperate for a proper right-back. Captain Seamus Coleman is out long-term, and Nathan Patterson is still struggling with the fitness issues that keep him off the pitch.

Everton Target Ben White Amidst Defensive Crisis

So, the Merseyside club think the versatile 28-year-old is the best bet to steady the ship for the rest of the season. White has plenty of Premier League games under his belt and could help out at Goodison Park right away. Still, the report notes that getting a deal done in January will be a massive uphill battle.

Arsenal usually hate selling senior players in the middle of the season. Losing a player now would leave them short on numbers during the most important part of the year. White has seen his playing time drop at the Emirates because Jurrien Timber has locked down the starting right-back spot since getting fit.

Since the 2025/26 season kicked off, White has only played 673 minutes across 13 games. He has mostly been a backup, picking up just one assist. Even though he isn’t playing as much, Arsenal likely see him as a key part of the squad. This makes Everton’s hope of signing the Englishman before the deadline look pretty slim.

Why Arsenal Must Say No?

Mikel Arteta has a big call to make on Ben White, but the smartest move is to turn Everton down and keep his defensive cover. The player obviously wants to play every week to find his best form again. However, letting go of a guy who can play both centre-back and right-back is a huge risk for a team trying to win trophies.

The Gunners need a deep squad to survive the grind of domestic and European football. If White leaves, the team would be in big trouble if William Saliba or Timber picks up a sudden injury. On top of that, finding a replacement this good in January usually costs way too much money. The club would likely rather save that cash for the summer.

Instead of letting him go, the North London club should get White back into the mix more often. This would give their starting defenders a much-needed break. He is great on the ball and loves to overlap. It gives Arteta a different look compared to Timber.

This is especially helpful against teams that sit deep and try to frustrate Arsenal. Even if his price tag drops a bit because he is on the bench, losing out on a title because of a lack of players would be much more expensive than any transfer fee. Arsenal need to stand firm and keep the group together. They will need everyone available to handle the crazy schedule coming up in the second half of the season.