‘Miss you’ – Kalvin Phillips sends Instagram message to player Leeds tried to sign in summer
Kalvin Phillips has told Ben White he misses the former Leeds United loan star as the Brighton man celebrated his 23rd birthday on Thursday.
White was a stand-out player for Leeds last season as they won the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League but the Yorkshire club failed with three bids to sign him on a permanent basis in the summer transfer window [The Argus].
Leeds have since signed Germany and Spain internationals Robin Koch and Diego Llorente to bolster their centre-back options while White has emerged as a regular starter for Brighton.
On Thursday, Phillips took to his personal Instagram account to wish White a happy birthday, saying: “Happy birthday to my brother, Ben White. Miss you, man.”
While the players might be missing White, Leeds’ start to the season suggests that they haven’t been.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have lost just one of their first four matches back in the Premier League and that was the 4-3 away at Liverpool, a game which they could have won on another day.
They’ve also won 4-3 against Fulham, 1-0 against Sheffield United and drawn 1-1 with Manchester City.
Although they conceded seven goals in the first two matches, Leeds’ defence has started to look a lot more rigid in the games against the Blades and City.
It has taken Koch and Liam Cooper a bit of time to get used to playing alongside each other but they are finally starting to look like a solid centre-back pairing in the Premier League.
As for White, he’s had a decent start to life in the top-flight with Brighton.
However, the south coast side has lost three and won one of their first four matches, conceding 10 goals in the process.
It might also take him a bit of time to get used to playing in a different side.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared what he’s heard about rumours Raphinha didn’t want to join the Whites.