Leeds have been persistent in their pursuit of Brighton’s defender Ben White.
The newly-promoted side is prepping for one of their hardest matchups this term. They face Premier League champions, Liverpool, on Saturday 12 on the opening day of English football.
Not exactly who you want to get first, but getting this one out the way early could set them up for a fantastic season, depending on the result come three weekends from now. In their search for first-team recruitments, they have identified Ben White as a priority for the summer.
However, the Seagulls have been hard to deal with, denying the Championship winners on more than one occasion. Three bids have been submitted by the Elland Road club and all three have been rejected with haste.
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This is for a good reason though. As per Sky Sports, Brighton’s not willing to sell a player to a club they will be directly battling for a spot in the league campaign. Making their opponents stronger while trying to improve themselves doesn’t sound like a good business strategy.
"Brighton will not sell defender Ben White to Leeds – for any price – because they want to avoid strengthening a club they consider to be a direct Premier League rival.Leeds had a third bid – worth £25m – for White rejected last week and will now turn their attention elsewhere with Brighton’s stance over the centre-back having become clear."
Understadning Leeds persistence
During their promotion run, White played a major role in them finally crossing the line from the EFL to the EPL. He was at the heart of the defence, helping Marcelo Bielsa’s team finish as champs of the EFL while maintaining the best defensive record for the 2019-2020 season.
They conceded as little as 35 goals for the term, with only Brentford coming close to them with 38 goals let in. The rest of the teams let by 10 or more goals compared to the Whites’ total. Adding to this amazing defensive stat and taking it into the top flight, White and company managed a better defensive record than all teams besides the Reds who finished with 33 goals against them.
Brighton without Ben was putrid. They struggled for large parts of the season but this was due to a number of factors, including the changeover in management and the new style of football being implemented under Graham Potter. The Seagulls conceded a whopping 54 goals, ending seven points just aloft from the drop spots in 15th place.
They certainly need to hold onto Ben White and are making one of the best decisions this summer to play hardball. Although, every player has a price, and if the new EPL club wants to pay over and above for him, Brighton might just consider accepting their next bid.
"White had been identified as Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa’s number one defensive transfer target this summer, with the player reportedly having turned down three contract offers from Brighton.The 22-year-old’s current deal at the Amex Stadium runs until 2022, with the option of a further 12 months, and Brighton boss Graham Potter is keen to integrate him into the first team this season. (Via: Sky Sports)"
Worryingly for Potter and his club, White has already denied a contract extension on three separate occasions. This indicates that the centre back is far more enthusiastic about the Ellan Road project than what he is with the one at Falmer Stadium.
Besides Marcelo Bielsa’s side going in hard for Ben, there have been links to top clubs for the player, showcasing his potential. Liverpool, Chelsea, and a number of top teams were all said to be attracted by the centre back.