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MOT View: Player of the season so far for Leeds but 'genuine interest' from PL giants is a worry
We’ve penned enough superlatives about Ben White this season. Suffice to say, he’s been way better than we could have expected since he arrived on loan from Brighton over the summer.
Just nine goals conceded in 16 games is all the proof you need.
He’s a player that fits the Bielsa style of football perfectly – good with the ball at his feet and possessing a wide range of passing. WyScout has him at a pass accuracy of 89.6% with 54.5% accuracy for long passes in the CHampionship, stats that are up there with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk (91.2% pass accuracy, 51.9% for long passes). He’s also got the highest number of interceptions in the division.
He’s our player of the season and former England and Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson agrees with us.
However, his form has got him noticed. Football Insider reported that he was on Liverpool’s radar last month and Phil Hay, via the Athletic, has now said that the Premier League giants have a “genuine interest’ in the player.
Not only that, but he’s been told the player has been scouted by Man United as well.
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Leeds do not have an option to make his transfer permanent in the summer. They tried but Brighton were adamant it would be a straight loan.
And they obviously knew what they were sitting on.
Under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Man United are actively looking for young, talented players to form a new squad for the future. Leeds know that only too well after losing out on Daniel James last January only to see him end up at Old Trafford in a deal worth double what Leeds were going to pay this summer.
Even if Leeds get promoted this summer – and that’s no gimme – they can’t compete with the likes of Liverpool and Man United.
It might have to be that White is a one-time deal for Leeds, a player who can help them win promotion, before making his permanent home at one of their Premier League rivals.
That’s the danger of loans, but given that promotion is the number one priority and Leeds did everything they could to get a permanent option, having him for a season is much better than not having him at all.
Leeds fans should enjoy him while we’ve got him.