According to the latest reports from the Argus, Brighton and Hove Albion are keen on sending their young and reserve players to the Championship to get some valuable game time. This should come as a piece of good news for Leeds United as they are interested in signing their centre back Ben White.
Why Leeds United need a centre back?
The report mentions that Marcelo Bielsa has identified White as a plausible option for the centre back position. The future of fan favourite Pontus Jansson looks uncertain at the moment, and even Gaetano Berardi is being linked with a move away from the club.
The Yorkshire outfit often had to use Kalvin Phillips in the centre back position last season when Liam Cooper, Jansson or Berardi were out with an injury. Bielsa even deployed Luke Ayling in that role on some occasions, and he had to promote Aapo Halme from the academy as well.
Therefore it is clear that the Whites should look to add depth at the back. Phillips is at his best in a defensive midfield role, and his abilities are often wasted as a centre back. White meanwhile spent the second half of the last season with League One outfit Peterborough United where he managed to make 15 appearances for them.
How White can fit in at Elland Road?
The 21-year-old is yet to make an appearance in the Premier League and has just two senior appearances for the Seagulls. Therefore he hasn’t been tested yet at a tough level. Leeds will hope that White can churn up the performances like Fikayo Tomori mustered up for Derby County or Axel Tuanzebe and Tyrone Mings made for Aston Villa last season. However, we think that White is only being seen as a backup option.
In that case, Brighton might want to send him to a club where he will be able to get regular game time. We don’t see White as an upgrade over Jansson or Cooper or Berardi at the moment, but with exits, maybe he might get first-team chances.
Blessed with decent defensive qualities, the Englishman is known for his on the ball ability. The 21-year-old can pass from the back, and he should help Leeds United in their build-up play. He is strong in the air and has that physical strength to cope up with the challenges of the Championship. However, he is largely inexperienced, and that could be a cause for concern for the Whites. The signing of this Brighton defender seems more like Bielsa’s ploy to add depth and competition for places in the squad
