Arsenal are reportedly in the running for one of football’s most touted prospects at present, with contacts allegedly already made over a player-plus-cash proposal.

What’s the word?

According to Calciomercatoweb, Arsenal have taken the first steps towards signing Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan, looking to get ahead of a hungry pack of suitors interested in his signature.

Inter Milan value their player at £34m, but with the supreme showings at the World Cup in Qatar, Dumfries may watch that price tag balloon as the winter transfer window looms near.

The report continues that the Gunners are looking to offer a sum of £34.5m plus Takehiro Tomiyasu, who would be an instant positional solution for Inter, but with Ben White occupying the right-back role at present, it could spell bad news for the England international.

Bad news for White

White has adopted the right-back role as his own this term, with the usual central defender succeeding in his new role with resounding success. 

And while Dumfries is a far more offensively apt flanker, White’s stability and composure for the Gunners has been vital in establishing their top spot in the Premier League after 14 matches played.

Indeed, sitting five points clear of current league champions Manchester City, Arsenal have defied expectations and taken a monumental stride from Champions League hopefuls to genuine title prospects with lightning speed, having languished outside the premier continental competition since the 16/17 campaign.

Adding Dumfries to the fray would perhaps create friction among the ranks, with Arsenal’s centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes unlikely to be usurped any time soon.

With creativity and forward flair in abundance within this burgeoning Arsenal team, the stability is not something that should be tampered with, and White is a focal point at the back that has been integral in the club’s recent ascension. 

As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old has been a robust and slick presence for his side in the Premier League, completing 86% of his passes and recording an average of 2.0 tackles and 1.8 clearances per outing. 

And White’s defensive prowess does not shroud his knack for aiding the attack, with FBref ranking the player within the top 13% for pass completion and 25% for progressive passes this term, when compared to full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues.

Dumfries, in retrospect, has only recorded an average of 0.7 tackles and 1.0 clearances per Serie A match this season, perhaps lacking the innate defensive knack to truly flourish in the Premier League.

And as per FBref, the 26-year-old ace ranks within the bottom 30% for all defensive metrics, including tackles, interceptions, clearances, and blocks.

Two gems with polarising skill sets on the football, and while Dumfries is a “deadly” offensive outlet, he is perhaps not what Arsenal currently need, with other departments of the field also being considered for improvement, and Arsenal should maintain their cohesion, and steer clear.