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Andrew Steel

Ben White profiled as Leeds United close in on loan move for Brighton defender

It's been a week since the Leeds United squad returned to Thorp Arch for pre-season training, with no new faces in the door yet.

But that is expected to change shortly, with the clubs' transfer plans stepping up a notch in recent days.

Leeds are expected to lean heavily on the loan market and have targeted moves for Jack Harrison, Helder Costa and Ben White.

While Harrison is very familiar to Leeds fans following his season at Elland Road last year and Costa was a headline player in Wolves' 2017 promotion from the Championship, leaving Brighton defender White as the unknown quanitity among the trio.

So just who is the 21-year-old? LeedsLive takes a look at his credentials.

White up against Arsenal in a Premier League 2 match last season (Harriet Lander/Getty Images)

Background

White is a centre-half currently contracted to Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Poole-born defender came through the youth ranks at the Seagulls and has been contracted to them on a permanent basis ever since turning professional.

He is also capable of filling in at right-wing and has over 75 career appearances to date, albeit with virtually all of them in the third and fourth tiers of English football.

What has he done?

White has had little time to shine, having only made two senior appearances for Albion, way back in 2016 in the EFL Cup.

Since then, he has spent a full-season loan with Newport County, where he played in the club's 2-1 FA Cup win over United, and the latter half of last season with Peterborough United.

He may yet be further restricted for first-team time at the AMEX Stadium, which could make a move to Leeds an interesting prospect.

Why do Leeds want him? 

White would offer back-up and competition for Pontus Jansson (Alex Dodd/CameraSport)

The watchword for this season's summer dealings is continuity, with Bielsa hoping to keep a reasonabley settled side this term.

White would add depth to the club's centre-back corps which given the injury problems the team had last year will be welcomed with open arms.

The youngster may struggle to break up Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson's partnership immediately, but given his potential, will no doubt have a part to play.

For all your latest Leeds United news, opinion, analysis and transfer gossip, click here.

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