By Craig Scott

16th Aug, 2020 | 4:10pm

Leeds set sights on permanent deal for 28y/o PL centre-back amid Ben White frustration - report

Leeds United have set their sights on Ben White’s Brighton team-mate Shane Duffy after three failed bids for their former loan star, according to the Scottish Daily Mail.

The newspaper claims in their print edition [back page, August 16] that Duffy, 28, is keen on joining Celtic this summer as the Glasgow giants aim to sign the Republic of Ireland international on loan.

However, Brighton would rather sell the ex-Everton centre-back permanently and Leeds, West Brom, Burnley and West Ham are all lining up permanent bids.

Leeds have reportedly had three bids rejected for £30million-rated White and while would all rather see White head to Elland Road this summer, Duffy wouldn’t be a bad addition either.

However, we see Duffy as more a Liam Cooper-type defender rather than White, with Duffy seen as more of a leader and a defensive strongman.

Mick McCarthy hailed Duffy as a “proper leader” last year after handing him the Ireland captaincy [The Sun] while Roy Keane has called him a “big strong boy”, adding that he’s “very good…in both boxes” [Goal].

Stats by WhoScored continue to show why Duffy wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement for White.

Duffy attempted 33.7 passers per league appearance last season compared to White’s 56.2. Duffy also only completed 80.7 per cent of them while White completed 84.6 per cent.

Duffy’s much more of a no-nonsense defender as he averaged more clearances than White last season per league game.

He’s a good centre-back but we just don’t see how he is the one who Marcelo Bielsa should turn to if the White pursuit hits a dead end.

In other Leeds United news, there’s been an update on the White saga.