When the summer transfer window finally opens, one of the major talking points will be the future of Ben White.
There has already been plenty of speculation about the Brighton & Hove Albion centre-half, who has been a mainstay for Leeds United during his season on loan with the Championship leaders.
Lots has been said about where the 22-year-old might end up, whether that be joining Leeds permanently or staying at Brighton, where he is under contract for another two years.
Here’s what’s been said about White’s future, mostly by those who know better than most...
The man himself
"We don't know just yet, but I've really enjoyed my time at Leeds and it's been a really good season so far,” White told Sky Sports when asked about his season and longer term future.
"Brighton and Leeds in the Premier League, I think,” he added when asked about his dream scenario next season. That would be amazing for me and then I'll just see what happens next season for me."
Marcelo Bielsa
“When you play in a different position you always improve the player,” said the Leeds head coach back in December, after first moving him to midfield.
“When Ben White is at centre-back, lots of times he does things like a midfielder. When Phillips plays as midfielder, a lot of the time he plays as a centre-back. In one play he is a midfielder.
“Other times with White at centre-back he goes forward and plays like a midfielder. What doesn’t happen is a centre-back playing as a centre-forward, or one centre-forward playing as a centre-back. This secondary function is part of the principal function.
“When you change one player in his position it improves him, but you have to have these skills to adapt to a new position - mobility, technique, skill, coordination, be able to create - but all these things you can see from watching.”
Graham Potter
“I’m aware of his progress and we keep a track of that. He’s been doing well," Potter told the Brighton club website. "I’ve spoken with him by text to wish him well for the rest of the season.
“We’re pleased with how he’s doing there, and the stakes are obviously high with Leeds trying to get into the Premier League, but those experiences bring their own challenges and will help him in his development. It’s why you go on loan in many ways.
“He’s done really well. It’ll be fascinating to see how it goes.
“He’s mobile, good on the ball, and in the hands of a very good coach in Marcelo Bielsa. Whatever he decides for Ben is fine by me.
“I’ve been aware of his progress since he was (on loan) at Newport County, and I wanted to sign him when I was in charge at Swansea City.
“I’m delighted with the experience he’s had so far this season with Leeds and we’re looking forward to working with him in the future.”
Dan Ashworth
“Leeds have done a brilliant job with him,” Brighton’s technical director told the Argus. “I was speaking with their sporting director and he has done really well.
“Ben has played almost every minute of every game other than the first half of a cup game.
“We are delighted - not surprised because we rate him, but we are delighted with how well he has done.
“He is still well contracted with us. He signed a new contract in the summer before he went out, so we have still got plenty left on him.
“As soon as he comes back, we will see where we are, we will see where the season resumes, what league we are in, etc, etc.
“He would certainly be part of plans in either scenario, and a young talent we would be looking to keep here for a number of years.”
Victor Orta
"Nobody can predict the future," said United’s sporting director on the chances of signing White on a permanent deal this summer, before putting things in a philosophical context.
"The only sure thing in the world is we are going to die. The rest is unpredictable. We are talking about a Premier League level player.”
Keith Andrews
“For me, he'll be in that Brighton team next season without a shadow of a doubt because with the market the way it's probably going to go in the summer, I don't think they will get the price that would make them sell,” said the Sky Sports pundit.
“When you look at the profile again, what attributes has he got? He's Graham Potter's type of centre-half.
“We've seen it in his Ostersunds side, we've seen it at Swansea and the centre-half he bought at Brighton, Webster, has similar types of characteristics, so you can tell the type of centre-half he likes. I would imagine Ben White fits really nicely into that.”
