Thomas Tuchel says he will be “in contact” with Arsenal defender Ben White when he officially takes over as England manager.
White has not played for the national team since the friendly victory over Ivory Coast in March 2022.
he is included England That winter, he participated in the World Cup in Qatar with the team, but returned home without playing a few minutes in the group stage.
Various claims claim the former Brighton defender is leaving the camp for personal reasons, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
It has been widely reported that White did not get along well with Gareth Southgate’s assistant manager Steve Holland, who reportedly claimed arsenal Stars “don’t have enough interest in football”.
With Southgate and Holland in charge of the Three Lions, White has left himself unavailable for selection.
However, the 27-year-old is likely to return to the team under incoming head coach Tuchel. He found out his side’s opponents for the 2026 World Cup qualifying group on Friday.
Speaking on Friday, the German said it was a “clean start” for the national team and he would contact White in the New Year.
“I will contact him,” Tuchel said. “This should be a clean start and a clear narrative.
“I’m going to be in the stadium from January. I’m not going to distract the players either, they should know, ‘OK, the boss is here from January’.”
More about England from F365
👉 Southgate accused of ‘lying’ about Arsenal, England star White: ‘He was targeted and ridiculed’
👉 England hierarchy has new leader in Bellingham but Manchester United players return
👉 Why are people “foaming at the mouth” about England’s “arrogant fools”?
White clearly wants to play for his country, revealing he cried for an hour after being called up for the first time in 2021.
He said at the time: “I got the call and got the news and I went out to dinner and I couldn’t believe it!
“Obviously speaking to Dan (Ashworth), he told me all the news and when I went, it was obviously unbelievable.
“I put the phone down and immediately called my mom and sat there and cried and my mom was crying and my mom and dad and all my sisters were there and yeah, I just sat there and cried for about an hour.
“I really can’t believe it, I don’t think it’s resolved yet.
“I really didn’t expect that I would be called, I thought it was a little too late because I had already heard that you were called.
“But I obviously didn’t and when that call did come I was ecstatic and really shocked.
“There is no pressure, I have to do what I have to do, do my best and if I get game time I have to play to my ability and show what I have.”
White underwent surgery last month on a knee issue and is currently sidelined with the injury.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirms: “Unfortunately, Ben White will be out for a few months. It’s a different type of fight, it’s never the same thing.
“We have to make a decision, the situation has not improved over the past few weeks.
“We knew Ben would push every boundary but it got to the point where we had to protect the player. We decided to have surgery and he agreed, which will keep him out for a few months.
“We’ll have to see how he responds after surgery, I don’t expect it to be six months, but I can’t say exactly how long it will be.”
