The Sun has recently claimed that Liverpool are facing fierce competition in the race for Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Ben White this summer. It is believed that the Reds would have to battle it out with every one of their top-six rivals in pursuit of the English defender, who is being valued over £50m in this off-season. The Sun also goes on to reveal that the Merseyside club has shown the strongest interest in White but can expect Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United to rival them in search of the player’s signature this summer.
White’s Stellar Campaign At Elland Road
The Poole-born prospect enjoyed a successful loan spell with Leeds United where he produced several dominant defensive displays at the centre of Marcelo Bielsa’s defence last season. He took part in 49 matches for the Whites in the previous campaign, registering one goal and two assists while receiving a total of 4364 minutes of game time across all fronts.
White has been a rock at the back for the Yorkshire giants over the past 12 months based on his average of 1.6 tackles, 2.5 interceptions and 2.7 clearances per game in the EFL Championship. What makes him such an excellent fit for any top-flight side, including the Reds, is the fact that he has completed 84.6% of his attempted passes in the second tier of England last season (stats via whoscored).
However, even with all the hype surrounding his potential in English football, the 22-year-old is yet to prove his worth in the Premier League. Thus, he might be a risky acquisition for any of his potential suitors as the Seagulls are demanding over £50m for their prized asset which is ludicrous in today’s transfer market that has been strongly affected by the economic complications brought about by the COVID-19 crisis.
What Will The English Centre-Back Bring To The Table?
White is often quick to read the danger and has the tenacity to fight for any loose possession inside his half. He has shown over the past year that he is proficient at winning the ball back for his team. The English defensive ace has sometimes bailed out his teammates when they get exposed defensively by taking charge of the situation and making some crucial last-ditch clearances at the back. He is also quite accurate when distributing the ball, which would help him settle into Jurgen Klopp’s style of play at Merseyside if he decides to join the Reds during this summer transfer period.
Will White Be A Good Choice For Jurgen Klopp This Summer?
White won’t be an upgrade over any of Liverpool’s current centre-back options, but there is no denying that the early signs from him have been quite promising, and he seems to have immense potential.
The ex-Southampton youth player has what it takes to compete with Joe Gomez and Joel Matip for a first-team spot at Anfield next season. Plus, he is a composed presence in defence and could potentially form a dominant centre-half partnership with Virgil Van Dijk at the red half of Merseyside. All in all, White will be an excellent choice for the Premier League champions to consider before the new season kicks off next month.
