Liam Cooper wants Leeds to sign ‘unbelievable’ player who ‘lives near York’
Leeds United captain Liam Cooper would like to the club sign Ben White on a permanent basis from Brighton after impressing on loan this season.
White, 22, has played every minute of every Championship match since joining Leeds on a temporary deal in the summer and his fine performances have led to him being linked with a host of Premier League clubs.
It is no surprise to see teams like Liverpool and Chelsea have shown reported interest in the centre-back [Sky Sports] but Cooper would like to see him stay on at Leeds.
“He plays with such an old head on his shoulders and a lad of his age to have done what he has done this season – he’s not missed a game in his first season in the Championship,” Cooper told Sky Sports, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“To reach the levels he consistently has done in every single game has been unbelievable.
“I think the lads will vouch for me here – off the pitch he is thick as thieves but he goes onto that pitch, you would never know that.
“He’s such an intelligent defender and I think he is going to go on to have an unbelievable career – hopefully that can be with Leeds United.
“He lives near York now – he loves it up here and took to the group straight away. We’ve got a young group and it was easy for him to settle in.
“He has been unbelievable and I think he has proved to everyone who did doubt him that he can definitely do it at this level and probably will at the highest level as well.”
Leeds would surely need to win promotion to the Premier League in order to be able to sign White on a permanent basis from Brighton.
If the south coast club suffers relegation then that could also be a bonus for the Whites in their potential efforts to sign White permanently.
However there is no doubt that interest from teams like Liverpool and Chelsea is enough to turn anyone’s head and Leeds will have to do well to match whatever they offer for the impressive defender.
White is certainly worth pushing the boat out for – but it’s going to take a lot of work to seal any deal.
In other Leeds United news, Leeds’ rivals have been privately critical of their behind-the-scenes decision.