Liverpool ‘tracking progress’ of young English defender
Liverpool are thought to have a genuine interest in young English defender Ben White, who is currently on loan at Leeds United from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 22-year-old central defender has impressed in the Championship so far this season, helping Leeds concede an impressively low figure of ten goals in seventeen league matches as they currently sit in the second automatic promotion spot.
Phil Hay, who covers Leeds for The Athletic, recently dubbed him the ‘White Wall’ in Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s measly defence.
White even embarked on a sixty-yard solo run, topping it off with a slide rule pass inside the left channel, to directly assist Patrick Bamford’s opener against Luton Town at the weekend, showcasing his ability to play out from the back.
Illan Meslier, a young French goalkeeper also on loan at Leeds, has been impressed with his team-mate, saying:
“He’s unbelievable. He’s off to a good start to the season.
“Last year I think he was in League One. This is his first year in the Championship and he’s shown he’s at that level.
“Brighton has a very good player on its hands.”
It appears Brighton manager Graham Potter is well aware of the progress his player is making.
“The feedback about Ben has been really good, and we’re happy with how he’s done so far,” Potter told Brighton’s official website.
“It’s really good for him and Leeds United too, because it shows that the loan has worked well for everybody.
“He was a player that was really after first-team football and he’s got that opportunity there.
“Of course he’s still our player, but we’re happy that he’s having a good experience and getting better all the time, so we’re delighted.”
With White unlikely to be recalled from his loan this season, any potential suitors such as Liverpool will almost certainly have to wait until next summer to bring him to the club.
It is thought a fee of around £20m may tempt Brighton into selling him.
Having spent last season on loan at Peterborough United in League One and the season before on loan at Newport County in League Two, White is certainly a player on an upward trajectory.
Whether it’s at Brighton or elsewhere, it seems likely he will continue that in the Premier League next campaign.
