New England boss Thomas Tuchel has held talks with Arsenal defender Ben White ahead of next month’s round of international fixtures.
The German head coach, who started his role in an official capacity on January 1, admitted he would hold talks with the defender at the World Cup draw back in December. “Yes, I will reach out to him,” he said.
“It should be a clean start and a clear narrative. It starts from January. I will be in the stadiums from January.
“I will also not distract the players and they should just know: ‘Okay, the boss is there from January’.”
The Gunners defender has not featured for the Three Lions after leaving England’s World Cup camp in Qatar, with The Football Association citing “personal reasons” for his departure from Gareth Southgate’s camp, back in 2022.
White reportedly made himself unavailable for international selection after a fallout with Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland – having made four England appearances prior to his final outing in March 2022.
The Arsenal defender has previously admitted that neither he nor his family are avid football fans, though enjoys playing the game but confesses that he seldom watches it when he’s off-duty.
BBC Sport claims that talks between Tuchel and White have taken place, but there’s nothing to suggest he’ll play a part in next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia next month.
White returned to action for the Gunners during their recent 1-0 defeat to West Ham United, his first appearance since knee surgery back in November.
“[He is] a player that has given us something very, very special, especially in that right unit,” Arteta said of White’s impact in his Arsenal team.
“So, great to have him back, more options, his energy, the way he’s around the team, the way he generates – he certainly has been missed.”
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