Premier League leaders Liverpool could make a move for Ben White, who is currently on loan at Leeds United in the Championship. White, a centre back, is contracted to Premier League side Brighton and went on loan to Leeds in the summer transfer window.
According to Football Insider, White could be a potential replacement for Dejan Lovren, after impressing for the Whites this season. Liverpool scouts have apparently been “blown away” by the 22-year-old defender, who has played in every league game for Leeds this season. Brighton think that White is worth over £20 million and want him back in their side after his loan spell at Leeds.
White has been on loan at Newport County and Peterborough United in the previous two seasons, before moving to Leeds earlier this season. His good performances for Leeds earned him the PFA Player of the Month for the month of August. White’s contract with Brighton expires in 2022, while his Leeds loan deal expires at the end of the current season.
Signing Ben White: A wise move?
The 22-year-old centre back has grown by leaps and bounds this season, flourishing in Marcelo Bielsa’s team. White is a ball-playing centre back who has great distribution from the back. In this season, White has a pass completion percentage of 87, making an average of 65.5 passes each game in the Championship.
White is also a clean tackler and has the pace and vision to make key interceptions from his centre back position. He averages 2.4 tackles per game in the Championship this season and 3.3 interceptions per game.
Liverpool’s centre back pairing in this season has been the colossal figure of Virgil van Dijk and the dependable Joel Matip. The two have been very strong at the back, with Joe Gomez providing solid cover. But, the fourth centre back in the team has been a problem as Dejan Lovren has still not convinced fans or Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp so far.
Ben White could be a good replacement for Lovren, as he is young and has superb potential to become a good player. He has adapted to the challenges thrown at him in the Championship and fit in well in Bielsa’s side.