Brighton and Hove Albion have suggested that they are not expecting Ben White to return to the club in the summer, according to reports.
The on-loan Leeds United centre-back has been a star man in their promotion push, impressing in his debut season at Championship level.
White has established himself as a huge fans' favourite at Elland Road and supporters are desperate to see him sign permanently with the club.
It's widely reported that Leeds wanted to include a clause in White's loan deal to make transfer permanent but Brighton rejected that notion.
However, Football Insider are reporting that Brighton don't expect White to return to the Amex Stadium after his loan in West Yorkshire.
The ball-playing defender has attracted interest from some of the Premier League's biggest clubs, according to the same report, including Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.
At the age of 22, clubs have been impressed with White's quality in possession and his age has led them to believe he could be a smart long-term investment.
Brighton, similarly, could be tempted to cash in on White due to their current resources at centre-back.
Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and Dan Burn are all capable options to play in Graham Potter's side, which have rotated from a back-three to a back-four.
With Derby County defender Matt Clarke also on loan, Brighton could decide to accept a bidding war for White in the summer, should interest in the defender arise.
If Leeds are promoted to the Premier League, they would be sure to play a part in the battle for his signature, although it remains to be seen how much concrete interest there could be from England's elite clubs.
