Leeds set to table another bid for player – report
Leeds United are set to table a third bid for Brighton centre-back Ben White, according to the Daily Star.
Sky Sports reported last week that the Seagulls had turned down two bids by the Yorkshire giants as they attempted to re-sign the 22-year-old defender.
It was said that Leeds offered £18.5million and £22million for White but both offers were rejected by Brighton, who have also had two of their contract offers kicked into touch by their impressive player.
Liverpool are also said to be interested in White, which is no surprise at all given how well he performed during his season-long loan at Elland Road last season.
White played every league match as Leeds won the Championship title and automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Marcelo Bielsa deployed him mainly as a centre-back but he was also shifted in the holding midfield role whenever Kalvin Phillips was unavailable.
That was mainly due to how good White is on the ball but also because of his brilliant ability to read the game and win possession from opposition sides.
According to WhoScored, only Barnsley’s Mads Anderson [2.7] averaged more interceptions per appearance than White [2.5] in the Championship last term.
He’s also been tipped to play for England in the future with Gareth Southgate revealing that he is someone he’s had his eyes on.
After that £22million bid was turned down, it became obvious that if Leeds were going to sign White, it would have to take a record-shattering bid by the club.
It’s been a long time since Rio Ferdinand’s big-money move to Elland Road but we hope that transfer record is finally destroyed by a successful swoop for White.
In other Leeds United news, the club is keen to sign this Nottingham Forest star.