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Leeds doing everything they can to sign player with reported £40m price-tag - Gray
Leeds United “are doing everything they can” to re-sign Ben White from Brighton after his loan spell at Elland Road ended, according to Eddie Gray.
White, 22, was the best defender in the Championship this season as Leeds won the title and automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
According to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, Brighton want around £40million to sell White permanently in the summer while The Athletic have reported that Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are all keen on him.
Leeds legend Gray would love to see his former club re-sign White ahead of next summer but has backed them to replace him if they cannot reach an agreement with Brighton.
“Listen, there is no question that Ben is very, very good,” Gray told the Sunday Post.
“The club are doing everything they can to keep him for next season, and I hope they succeed because I would love to see him play for Leeds United in the Premier.
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“It is unfair, though, to talk about Ben being the reason for promotion.
“Bielsa has built a great side and this title was a real team effort from the players and the coaches together.
“If they can’t keep Ben White, then they will have the resources available to find a replacement and the team will go on.”
The big issue for Leeds is that White is worth £40million. If anything, Brighton are underselling the 22-year-old if they want that much for him.
It is going to be very difficult for the Whites to land the centre-back this summer.
Another loan deal seems to be out of the question while it is perhaps just as likely he stays put and plays a role at Brighton rather than quit the AMEX to join another Premier League club.
Leeds do have several advantages in the race to sign White but if you’re him – and not a Leeds fan – who do you go for? The Premier League champions? The richest team in the country? The most well-supported team in the country? They’re all Premier League clubs and two of the three teams interested in him have amazing managers who’ll improve him just as much as Marcelo Bielsa will.
It is going to be hard to take, Leeds fans, but we don’t see White coming back at Leeds any time soon.
In other Leeds United news, Leeds have advised overseas players to return home as they face quarantine.