Sky Sports commentator shares what EFL boss told him about future of ‘top-quality’ Leeds player
Sky Sports commentator Gary Weaver has revealed what Newport County manager Michael Flynn told him about Ben White when he joined Leeds United.
White, 22, has spent the season on loan at Leeds from Brighton, playing every minute of every Championship match for Marcelo Bielsa’s leading-leading side.
White has only ever made two first-team appearances for Brighton and has spent the last few seasons out on loan where he’s played for Newport in League Two and Peterborough in League One.
He’s risen up the football pyramid and looks a sure bet to play in the Premier League next season, whether it be with Leeds, Brighton or even Liverpool as Weaver claims that the Reds have a scout watching most of White’s appearances.
That wouldn’t shock White’s former boss Flynn, who tipped the defender to play at the top level of football in the future.
“I was talking to Mike Flynn at Newport County before any games this season because, obviously, he’d been on loan at Newport. Mike was just saying, ‘watch him, he’s unbelievable, he can play at any level, he’ll adapt to the Championship with Leeds United’. Mike had no doubt,” Weaver told Sky Sports’ EFL podcast.
Weaver added: “Andy O’Brien, who’s a Liverpool scout, has watched almost every single game of Ben White. The big teams are interested.
“For me, there’s just that calmness and composure.
“He’s taken everything in his stride. He’s a top-quality player.”
Leeds have conceded just 30 goals in 37 Championship matches this season – no team has conceded fewer.
Although White is constantly praised for his ability with the ball at his feet and the way he passes the ball, not enough is said about how he’s managed to shore up the back-line.
It was always going to be tough to replace Pontus Jansson but White has made it look easy.
In other Leeds United news, Keith Andrews has tipped Bielsa to win manager of the year.