BBC journalist posts key update on Leeds United move for Ben White
The Ben White transfer saga is starting to get painful for Leeds United fans.
After Sky Sports reported that two bids – of £18.5m and £22m – had been rejected for White by Brighton, Football Insider claimed on Wednesday that Leeds had tabled a further £30m bid that was also turned down.
Following this, BBC journalist Simon Stone gave Leeds fans hope before dashing it again in one short tweet.
He said, “Reports of fresh @LUFC bid for Ben White incorrect but @OfficialBHAFC no interest in selling him.”
But that wasn’t the end of it for a dramatic Wednesday for White.
On the Sky Sports transfer blog (Wednesday, 5.46 pm), it was claimed that “Leeds United [are] expected to make a THIRD bid for Brighton defender Ben White.”
Unpick that
What to make of all this? What seems to be consistent is that Leeds want Ben White and are prepared to spend big money to land him.
Brighton don’t want to sell him – yet.
However, we’re still convinced that White won’t be a Brighton player next season.
We can’t see him forcing a move through. He’s young and he doesn’t seem the sort of person that would want to cause ructions at this stage in his career.
Whether it would work for Leeds or not, White’s reputation could be tarnished if he went down this route.
Leeds need to move towards drawing a line under the deal, though. They should make a final, ‘best’, offer and be prepared to walk away – similar to what Liverpool did with Jamal Lewis at Norwich.
Liverpool offered what they thought was fair and then instantly signed an alternative target (Kostas Tsimikas) when Norwich tried playing hardball.
Leeds know how damaging it can be to hold on for transfers that might or might not happen after the Che Adams saga last January. Leeds ended up signing Jean-Kevin Augustin on loan late in the window after finally giving up on Adams and that was a disaster.
Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa are so far removed from a one-man team and with players back in training for pre-season, we need a new centre-back now, not in three weeks.
Leeds will have other targets. It could be time to move onto them and call Brighton’s bluff.
In other Leeds United news, ‘If this is true’, ‘Player power’ – Many fans react to ‘Mega’ Leeds transfer update