Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White could be a target for Premier League champions Liverpool in the January transfer window. White is currently in his first year in the Premier League, but was a target for many clubs in the summer after impressing with Leeds in the Championship last season.
As per journalist James Pearce, Liverpool will most likely sign someone in the January transfer window after the unfortunate injury to star defender Virgil van Dijk. He revealed that Ben White was a target for the Merseyside club in the summer and despite the 23-year-old signing a new contract with Brighton, Liverpool’s interest in him may not have waned. The report says that the Reds are also interested in Ozan Kabak of Schalke.
White’s current deal with the Seagulls expires only in 2024.
Ben White: Good option for them?
The injury to Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool’s slow start to the domestic season no longer makes them the absolute favourites to win the Premier League. The Dutch defender has been instrumental in Liverpool’s successes in the recent past and he will be missed sorely not just for his presence and defensive ability but also his leadership.
It’s nigh impossible to find a player of the quality of van Dijk currently, but the Reds will have to sign a player to fill the gap left by the Dutchman as manager Jurgen Klopp has very few options to choose from. Ben White could be a terrific addition to the Liverpool squad as he is a player with great potential, has taken to the Premier League well, and has the qualities that Klopp requires in his centre-backs.
While he may not be a towering and imposing figure like Virgil van Dijk, Ben White has other qualities that make him a good central defender. White has loads of energy, which will be useful in Klopp’s intense pressing game, while he is very good with the ball at his feet. The Englishman is a very good passer from the back, averaging 64 passes in the Premier League this season, while playing an average of 2.6 long balls.
The likes of Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Fabinho have performed admirably in central defence but given the jampacked nature of the season this time around, Klopp cannot afford not to fortify the backline especially given the workload on the same set of players for the last three seasons.
Injuries will be commonplace across clubs this season and trying to deal with VVD’s absence will mean going for someone who can continue in the first team for a club like Liverpool, not just as a backup, but as a bonafide option. And Ben White looks destined for success at the top level. Thus moving early for the player will not just be as a stop-gap arrangment but also looking at the long-term prospects of an ageing squad.
