Ben White loves Leeds United. Ben White loved playing for Leeds United. Ben White loved his Leeds United team-mates. Leeds United have an advantage.
Chief executive Angus Kinnear has outlined the club’s pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion’s defender and how the Whites may yet get him back to West Yorkshire.
As well as how much White enjoyed all aspects of his experience at Elland Road, Kinnear also points out the guaranteed Premier League pitch time White will get under Marcelo Bielsa.
Liverpool and Manchester City are known to have tracked White for much of 2019/20, but the latter seems focused on more experienced targets while the former is, reportedly, reluctant to spend unnecessarily in this window.
White has never played for Brighton in the league and found himself carted off to Newport County and Peterborough United in the years before United came calling.
The hope in the corridors at Elland Road is White will recognise that lack of faith in Sussex and look to what was put into him by Bielsa, Victor Orta and co.
Kinnear said: “Ben is going to be hugely sought-after. It’s one of the risks of doing the type of deal we did. I know supporters say ‘well, why isn’t there an option to buy him?’
“The reality was Brighton weren’t prepared to do that, so it was either take the player without an option or don’t take him at all.
“We clearly made the right decision. We now have some conversations to have with Brighton as to where they see his future.
“We know they rate him very highly. We know other clubs rate him very highly. We have an advantage in Ben loves the club.
“He’s loved playing for the club. He loves his team-mates. He knows he’s going to get game time under Marcelo.
“We have a small competitive advantage there, but ultimately, we’re now going to be fighting with some big names for his signature.”
There are two years remaining on White’s current Seagulls deal.
