In a recent interview with Football Insider, former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson tipped Ben White to be a good fit at Liverpool when he said, “I think he would start straight away alongside Van Dijk. They would be a formidable partnership.
“You see the way that Van Dijk has played with De Ligt for the Dutch national team. He always develops the players around him.
“White would be a shoo-in with Van Dijk to start. He would start the season and you would not get him out. He did not miss a game for Leeds last year.
“He has got a great affinity with Leeds, the club and the fans, but the offer of Champions League football and playing for the Premier League champions may just be too much of a lure.
“You hope that he has a bigger affinity with Leeds but if he went to a club like Liverpool he would get in and you would not get him out again.”
White’s Impressive Form At West Yorkshire Last Season
The Athletic’s James Pearce claimed earlier this week that the Reds boss Jurgen Klopp rated the English centre-back quite highly after his incredible loan spell with Leeds United last season. He managed to make 49 appearances for the Elland Road outfit, scoring one goal and grabbing two assists in all competitions.
More importantly, the 22-year-old enjoyed a rich vein of form defensively as he averaged 1.6 tackles, 2.5 interceptions and 2.7 clearances per 90 minutes in the EFL Championship. Moreover, White completed 84.6% of his attempted passes in league football which goes to show just how comfortable he has been when distributing the ball out from the back (stats via whoscored).
The Seagulls centre-back is one of the most promising young defenders in English football, so it makes sense for a top club like Liverpool to splash the cash on securing his services before the start of the new season.
What Are The English Defensive Ace’s Best Attributes?
White can sense the danger quickly, which enables him to win the ball back for his side and can even make some crucial clearances whenever his teammates are left exposed at the back. He is an ideal, ball-playing centre-half who has enjoyed a steady rise at Leeds over the past 12 months. Standing at 1.82m, the English prospect does not have the power to match Van Dijk, but he still has bags of potential to become a top player in his position someday.
Should The Reds Launch A Move For White This Summer?
With the departure of Dejan Lovren from Anfield earlier this summer, Klopp has currently got three senior centre-backs in his squad. Hence, he needs to recruit a new defender like White during this summer transfer period so that he can build a strong team capable of retaining the Premier League crown next season.
The Brighton youngster will increase competition for the likes of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip at Merseyside and has the potential to form a commanding defensive partnership with Van Dijk in the coming seasons. Therefore, the champions of England should consider tabling an offer for White as he could prove to be a shrewd signing for them in the long-run.
