Chelsea have reportedly joined Leeds United and Liverpool in the race to sign Ben White this summer.
The defender is subject to plenty of transfer speculation this summer, with Leeds keen to secure his services after impressing on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion last season.
White featured in all 46 games of United’s title-winning campaign as he formed a solid partnership with Liam Cooper which produced 22 clean sheets.
The Whites are reported to have had two bids for the defender turned down as they plan for their first season back in the Premier League after 16 years away.
According to the Sunday Mirror, the Blues could well scupper those plans, with Frank Lampard’s side reportedly planning to hijack Liverpool’s move for the 22-year-old.
Lampard is said to want an overhaul of his defence ahead of next season, having seen them accrue the worst defensive record in the top half of the Premier League.
Antonio Rudiger is reported to be one of the big-name casualties, and the German international’s departure would clear the way for White’s arrival.
Liverpool are also said to be interested in the 22-year-old, and have also reportedly made a bid as they test the waters with Brighton.
The Reds are said to have made an opening bid of £20m for White, with Chelsea prepared to better anything that’s laid on the table.
That sees them falling well short of Brighton’s valuation, with the Seagulls thought to have slapped a £40m price tag on the defender, who is under contract until June 2022.
